The Fall of ICQ and rise of MSN
Monday, July 15, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
The poll results from last week which had over 1000 users respond showed a surprising result - Microsoft Instant Messenger has gone from nothing to a dominate player in the instant messenging market. 42% of users polled responded that they use MSN. The once dominant ICQ trailed at only 15% with AOL Instant Messenger at 16%. The popular skinnable instant messenger Trillian gained an impressive 20% share. However, its numbers may be higher since the poll was taken on a Windows customization site (WinCustomize). Clearly though, MSN has become a real for in instant messenging.
Third Eye
Reply #2 Monday, July 15, 2002 3:30 PM
Reply #2 Monday, July 15, 2002 3:30 PM
Since trillian allows for the use of all of these services I wonder what user percentage uses what service within trillian more?
I use ICQ/AOL and MSN pretty much equally through trillian.
I use ICQ/AOL and MSN pretty much equally through trillian.
esco san
Reply #3 Monday, July 15, 2002 5:48 PM
Reply #3 Monday, July 15, 2002 5:48 PM
I use mostly AOL through trillian and MSN takes a close second. I have my ICQ account in trillian but rarely use it.
Woodbridge
Reply #4 Monday, July 15, 2002 6:54 PM
Reply #4 Monday, July 15, 2002 6:54 PM
I lost my ICQ password, but its been so long since somebody ICQ'd me I haven't been bothered to startup a new account.
Trillian -> MSN and IRC is all I need.
Trillian -> MSN and IRC is all I need.
Ryokurin
Reply #5 Monday, July 15, 2002 10:41 PM
Reply #5 Monday, July 15, 2002 10:41 PM
Rather use trillian. Does what its supose to and your connected to all the big boys in the same amount of memory that ICQ by itself used. I must admit however, that if I had to choose, it would be MSN however, never have liked AIM, and no one uses Yahoo.
scratch_pentagon
Reply #6 Monday, July 15, 2002 10:43 PM
Reply #6 Monday, July 15, 2002 10:43 PM
Hmm... that's completely different than the people I talk to. I use AIM exclusively as do most of my friends, although a few of them have either ICQ or MSN as well. I don't think I know anyone that uses Yahoo.
AJCrowley
Reply #7 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 3:13 AM
Reply #7 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 3:13 AM
I now use trillian, this is mainly because of it's compatibility with all networks, though my personal choice would be ICQ, simply because I've been using it for so long. It's a shame to see MS's self-promotional tactics finally paying off, since MSN Messenger is undoubtedly one of, if not the worst of the available networks. While it offers some neat features and a pretty interface, the inability to leave offline messages for a user is a huge drawback.
AJC
AJC
Arckon
Reply #8 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 4:59 PM
Reply #8 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 4:59 PM
I have been using ICQ for about 5 or 6 years now. My ICQ number is less than 1 million, just to show you how long I have been using it. I have always gotten the newest version of it when it came out, and I have noticed that there are more and more useless features and bugs that come with every new version! The reminder feature, which I actually used, got kicked out of the program, and they added a new stupid feature that when you hit the x button, it now minimizes to the systray! That is feature is EXTREMELY ANNOYING! Ever since AOL took over, ICQ has been going downhill. I am considering switching to trillian to use my ICQ account to get away from the piece of junk ICQ program.
Shathis
Reply #9 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:07 PM
Reply #9 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:07 PM
Don't you agree that a poll handled on wincustomize is likely a "geeks survey" (I admit being a geek and proud of it too) and does not reflect the general opinion of the public at large.
Offensive terms aside, I am certain that the general public has almost no idea what Trillian is, even though I use it myself. What I am saying is, your sample is extremely tainted. You are not reflecting the "people who buy the Sims/Myst", if you know what I mean - or the average computer user. I think you would find if you did, a much greater number of people using MSN
messenger because of its ubiquitous nature, and yes - fewer using ICQ, but almost nobody using Trillian. Trillian is a geek's paradise, but useless to a casual user. And lest we forget, casual users make up most of the user base still.
After all, if you asked who used Linux or had computer jobs, you'd find the
amount here were more common, because casual users don't answer online
polls.
Offensive terms aside, I am certain that the general public has almost no idea what Trillian is, even though I use it myself. What I am saying is, your sample is extremely tainted. You are not reflecting the "people who buy the Sims/Myst", if you know what I mean - or the average computer user. I think you would find if you did, a much greater number of people using MSN
messenger because of its ubiquitous nature, and yes - fewer using ICQ, but almost nobody using Trillian. Trillian is a geek's paradise, but useless to a casual user. And lest we forget, casual users make up most of the user base still.
After all, if you asked who used Linux or had computer jobs, you'd find the
amount here were more common, because casual users don't answer online
polls.
Shathis
Reply #10 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:08 PM
Reply #10 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:08 PM
Ah, oops. Yeah, you mentioned "However, its numbers may be higher since the poll was taken on a Windows customization site (WinCustomize)"
Don't I feel the dope!
Don't I feel the dope!
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Reply #1 Monday, July 15, 2002 1:25 PM