ICQ 6 Launched

ICQ today released ICQ 6, a complete overhaul of its instant messaging tool. While supporting some increasingly widespread features such as tabbed chat windows, the IM app brings some new twists not seen in earlier apps, ICQ says. Foremost is Quick IM: users can now send off shorter messages to their friends directly from the contact list, saving the clutter of an open window; ICQ is also one of the first to support two-way SMS texting for communicating with friends outside of phone calls or the Internet. The app is also unique in having its own soundtrack for message events, composed by the psychedelic trance group Infected Mushroom.

Version 6 also boasts improved history and search tools, and is available to download immediately for free; it currently requires Windows XP and Vista as well as 256MB of RAM.

By Electronista Staff