AOL announced an open beta of a new Windows Mobile application called ICQ Mobile.
ICQ Mobile brings much of the functionality of their desktop app to your Windows Mobile device.
Device Support
ICQ for Windows Mobile supports devices with Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile 6, and Windows Mobile 6.1 operating systems, including:
- T-Mobile Dash and Wing
- Sprint HTC Touch and Diamond
- AT&T Samsung Blackjack II and Epix
- Verizon Wireless XV6800 and XV6900
- Sprint Samsung Ace
- AT&T Pantech Duo and Matrix Pro
- Motorola Q
- Most Palm Treo’s
Why ICQ?
AOL’s decision to create ICQ Mobile has some people scratching their heads. ICQ is arguably the granddaddy of instant messaging, but has largely been passed over in favor of WLM, Yahoo! Messenger or even Facebook. “ICQ? I haven’t used that in ages!” They are forgetting basic geography — the world is round. The mobile market is global, and ICQ still enjoys great popularity outside of North America.
You can check out the ICQ Mobile beta here.
Useful Links
You make a good point about ICQ having a lot of users outside of the U.S., but the terms and conditions of the ICQ Mobile beta state that you must be a U.S. resident. I wonder what the figures are for ICQ users in the U.S.? Maybe they plan to expand that to the rest of the world after the testing?
Didn’t they already have a mobile client – but a paid for version??? Maybe that’s why it is ICQ and not AOL/AIM…
Outside US – ICQ seems to be only really big in Germany and Brazil (like leading IM platform)