messaging
ICQ vs Telegram
ICQ started first, in 1996, 17 years before Telegram.
Why ICQ lasted
- The number. People still remember their ICQ UIN the way they remember a first phone number.
- Mail.ru / VK kept it on life support for markets where it still meant something.
Why Telegram lasted
- Channels, bots, and huge groups made it infrastructure for places WhatsApp is a family chat.
- Durov as a walking opposition brand is a distribution channel, for better and worse.
Questions
Which is older, ICQ or Telegram?
ICQ started first, in 1996, 17 years before Telegram.
How long has ICQ been running?
ICQ has been up 29 years 306 days, since 1996-11-15.
How long has Telegram been running?
Telegram has been up 13 years 34 days, since 2013-08-14.
More messaging comparisons
same category
Discord vs ICQDiscord vs SignalDiscord vs SkypeDiscord vs SlackDiscord vs TelegramDiscord vs WhatsApp
Dates are founding dates from the written entries. Play which is older, or see the oldest messaging still running.