Readers comments have not stopped pouring in on the "Globes" report that ICQ is selling out to AOL. Today we print more reactions, from the scores of e-mail responses we received. If you wish to add your own comment, please do so.
Columbus, GA
You people are out of your mind. The service you created
will be destroyed by AOL. I don’t care if they do pledge not to change
anything. The pure name of AOL hits most computer users right in the mouth.
If you want money than sell it to someone with a better record.
Winnie, Tx
Our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren are in
Heidelberg, Germany with the Army and our son, daughter-in-law and two more
grandchildren live two hours away from us. We are all on ICQ, and use it
all the time to message back and forth and to get on the chat so we can
chat with each other. With the price of long distance phone calls, ICQ has
been a way for us to stay in touch with each without high phone bills.
Please, please, please don't let AOL ruin something that has been a way for
family and friends to stay in touch, and of making new friends.
Munich, Germany
An ICQ friend sent me the URL about the sale of ICQ to AOL.
Does ICQ realize that by doing that they are turning their back on millions
of ICQ users?
I have come to know many ICQ users, disabled with illness or for
other reasons, are pretty much or completely house-bound, where ICQ is their
only window to the world and friends, who would not be able to afford
AOL’s high rates.I myself use ICQ to be in constant communication with family members in Venezuela and the U.S.A. and it has made my life (so far away from home) here in Germany much more bearable.
Speaking for myself, I would not continue using ICQ if it lands in the
hands of AOL, and I think that very many of the other ICQ users would feel
the same way.
Maybe Mirabilis could charge its millions of users a small monthly
fee.......if the question is one of finances.
I am very sad and very disappointed in Mirabilis for even considering this
deal.
Knoxville, Tn
This saddens me deeply. It feels like we have been sold
down the river. AOL may have many subscribers, but many of us choose not
to join. For good reason. ICQ is polite, respectful and
an enjoyment. How refreshing it is to talk to
people that are not playing a game. Please don't
sell.
Beaumont, Tx
I too am an ICQ user, no 4413654. And yes the
users of ICQ do feel betrayed. I like so many users
recommend this program to numerous people. Seems like you find a good
thing and it's taken away. I too consider this to be a disaster....
Saylorsburg, Pa
Personally, I don't care who owns ICQ, as long as it is free
and it works. But now that AOL bought ICQ, my big concern is how long
until they start charging.
The day AOL starts charging for use of ICQ, is the day ICQ
hits an all-time low.
Albuquerque, Nm
I cannot believe the news that ICQ is selling out to AOL. I
have never understood why it is that when something so fine and so
successful as ICQ is suddenly acquired by another company, and immediately diluted into mediocrity. It seems to be rare these days to find something of quality, such as ICQ. I have met many people through ICQ, some to chat with and some who asked for my help. I have met people who I have become friends with. I cherish these people. Can you, do you, honestly believe that the quality of ICQ as it now is will
remain the same in the hands of AOL? I, having had experience with AOL, do
not believe it for an instant. I profoundly wish there were something I
could say that would dissuade your decision in this. I am so sorry to hear
this news and wish so much that it were not true.
Detroit, Mi
I have to agree with the article saying that AOL's proposed
purchase of Mirabilis will be a disaster for end-users. Nothing in life is
free, however, it would certainly be in Mirabilis' corporate interests to
keep sole proprietorship of their product. AOL doesn't have the best track
record around (one reason I stay with MSN) despite their supposed high
market share, and they should anticipate an enormous drop in ICQ subscribers
after purchase.
Wyandotte, Mi
Mirabilis sale to AOL: If that happens, count me out of ICQ. I’ll be deleting the
program when it happens.
Tulsa, Ok
I have been on with AOL and I think it one of the worst
servers ever. It is a server that is set up for people who are not that
gifted in computer knowledge. ICQ is one of the greatest programs on the
internet at this time as far as chat systems go I am begging you, please, do
not disgrace this program. Now it is a free good operating working system
but if AOL gets it they will turn it into a way to make money. AOL doesn't
care about the people - they only want money.
I am not saying this as a threat, but if they sell out, they
will lose a lot of members of ICQ.
Manns Choice, Pa
I just read your column on the ICQ sale to AOL.
I just wanted to add that most of the people on my ICQ just found out about
it and all are dismayed and saddened. The prevailing thought is ICQ will
either be no more or we be so drastically changed by AOL as to make it
unusable.
Pensacola, Fl
Just in case no one else can see what AOL is trying to do, I may be able
to point it out to you. They are beginning their monopoly. AOL, like
Microsoft, must be the biggest and only company in its business. Microsoft
has been almost completely successful in killing many of its
competitors and when (I hope I can say "if") AOL buys Mirabilis they will
probably just kill ICQ all together and force people to use their AOL
Instant Messager program, or start putting advertisements for other
companies on ICQ, so they can make money from it. I really hope the current
owners of Mirabilis will think very hard about what they are doing with
their company and about what the 11.5 million ICQ users
will do if AOL buys Mirabilis.
Personally, I will get rid of it before AOL starts charging people for
it. I used to have AOL and somehow my unlimited billing plan was altered
without my knowledge (I am the only person in my house who used AOL) and I
racked up a bill of over $700 which AOL will not refund.
Many of my friends had similar billing problems (not nearly as large as mine) and I should have seen it coming.
In fact, I could handle a couple advertisements if Mirabilis wants to
start making money from ICQ, but no matter what AOL does with it I will get
rid of it. I try my hardest to stay away from this avaricious,
cold-hearted company, but just like Microsoft, it keeps appearing in the
next place I go.
Please don't kill Mirabilis! Abstain from AOL!
Wickett, Tx
With the realization that money talks, and making money is
the name of the game, it is very distressing to contemplate the destruction
of as popular and useful program as ICQ. Obviously, the creators of the
program have not considered that AOL will totally degrade their creation,
but it is theirs to destroy by selling to AOL if they desire.
Eureka, Ca
Sorry guys, but this really stinks if ICQ goes with AOL. l
I'm gone, I won't use ICQ anymore.
This SUCKS.
Just please don't do it!!!
ICQ User
I love ICQ. I use it all the of the time. I have made friends all around
the world, and ICQ is the only way I can talk to them. Please don't sell
out to AOL. They'll screw everything up. I LOVE my ICQ, and I don't want
to see it ruined.
ICQ is the best thing that ever happened to the "net".. Please, please,
please, do not let AOL take it over!! I can say no more!
Chicago, Il
ICQ is the best tool going on the Internet for beginning new friendships and
maintaining contact with friends and family. My life is
enriched because of the new friends I have, many of them I've met in person.
It's been a wild ride, lots of laughs, tears, and moments I will never
forget. I have avoided AOL like the plague and if any changes are made to
my beloved ICQ I will not use it anymore. I don't want to see AOL spam anywhere when I'm using ICQ. They wouldn't pay the kind of money they did for the software if they didn't intend on gaining revenue from it. I'm sick to my stomach.
Hilo, Hawaii.
Well I too am here to express that though I live in the middle of the
ocean, using ICQ has brought me close to a lot of friends that I have made,
and the family that I talk to across the sea....should this go to AOL I too
will uninstal this program.
Please don´t sell to AOL, born free, taxed to death by AOL.
I have been an ICQ user for a while now and I am really satisfied with the
program. It has provided me with all the services I have needed. If AOL
takes over ICQ it will be a disaster and will ruin everything ICQ has
accomplished to date. Also there will be a lot of very unhappy people. So
please do not accept the deal.
Santiago, Chile
I've been an ICQ user since it was first released and have enjoyed it greatly. I've seen ICQ's features being added and experienced this wonderful program's evolution.
Now I've been reading REAL ARTICLES about AOL buying Mirabilis, and I'm strongly against it. I've seen how sluggish AOL's service is, and I don't want the same to happen to ICQ. ICQ must be kept free... free of charge, free of advertisements, and free of AOL.
I think it is a very bad move for Mirabilis to look
into such avenues as this.
Newport, Or
I am really disgusted that AOL might get their hands on ICQ. We have not found a better way to communicate with our family and friends. We are concerned that AOL is going to charge us for this service now. I don't like AOL and I have managed to get my whole family transferred to ICQ from AOL Instant messenger. They were all much happier away from AOL. Now to find that ICQ may become a AOL product we will just have to check out the Yahoo Pager. AOL is a rip off. They are only in it for the money, and they have Monopoly enough without the reins on ICQ also.
Clearly what seems to be in play here is... simply greed. AOL will not
only become richer, by implementing a charge for ICQ, but will lower.the quality of the product as well..
Athens,Greece:
I want to add my voice to the worry that AOL may buy up ICQ.
One cannot begrudge the clever developers of ICQ to cash in on a very good
software package but I would hope that there would be a clause (as long as
they stay onboard as consultants) not to commercialize ICQ, otherwise many
of the people using it today will simply disappear to find some new
wizkids with similar ideas, and the investment may not have been so great.
Perry, Ohio
Just got a message on ICQ (of course) about a webpage telling about how
AOL was going to buy ICQ for 300 million dollars. At first I didn't believe
that ICQ would go that low to sell out to anyone, let alone AOL. I am
disturbed that ICQ is even considering it. I have used ICQ ever since it
came out. I for one probably will stop using ICQ if they do sell
out to AOL; selling out to AOL will do no good and they will just butcher
the program that has become so popular amongst everyone.
I truly hope that ICQ reconsiders and that voices like mine are heard because we do mean it when we say that "ICQ will go to hell if AOL owns it".
ICQ User
Sorry. Can't help but let you know this is a
disaster. If I wanted to be associated with AOL, I would have gone
with them. If you go with this deal, it means disaster for all
the million users of ICQ.
Canada
I have been a member of ICQ for years. I fear that AOL will destroy the
community by charging fees, forcing constant advertisements, and not
providing a quality connection!
Please, anyone but AOL.
Brookshire, Texas:
As a former AOL member, I am appalled at the idea of AOL buying ICQ. What
a sad, sad day for all of us, the ICQ users for we will have to find
another communication setup.
Why does AOL want to purchase ICQ?? Because the program is "good"? I
seriously doubt it. It's ICQ's huge user base that has caught their eye.
Why does ICQ have such a large user base?? One can sum it up nicely with
one word: "free".
I seriously doubt AOL is going to do away with the (almost eternal)
"time-limited" free trial currently in place. How many of us would continue
to use the service if they did?? I find ICQ a convenience, not a
*necessity*, and I'm not going to pay for it. I'll put up with a little
advertising in exchange for use of the service, but nothing more.
So it all boils down to money. The users of ICQ obviously don't matter to anyone, yet we're the ones who regularly use the program. If you took a survey of all ICQ users, I am certain that you would find an overwhelming majority is not at all fond of AOL. If this transaction takes place, watch the majority of ICQ users disappear, uninstall the program and go back to just using "Pow-Wow" or the Yahoo messenger, and email. America Online will watch America, and the ENTIRE WORLD go OFFLINE as far as ICQ goes!!!
Medina, Ohio:
I have been a ICQ user for a short period of time, Jan.'98. But I loved
it since day one and have passed it on to many friends. It is great for
my deaf friends. I also had AOL for a couple of months and was very
disturbed about how low they stooped with some of their banner ads. It
is evident they care more about money then high standards and quality
service. I would rather pay for quality service to ICQ and have no ads
popping up than having to monitor what is going on because of AOL known
past. Most of my friends using ICQ like myself would drop ICQ when AOL
standards become ICQs.
I am a very happy ICQ user. There is no other product that is its
equal. Of course, I realize that's why AOL want's to buy it.
I have used AOL from time to time and I've be unhappy with
all the stuff that has to be loaded and running before you can even use
it. With ICQ, I just connect to my ISP and the run ICQ, very neat,
simple and memory efficient. It is a shame that such a deal is even
being considered.
ICQ User
I am an ex-AOL user. That is my first experience with the internet and
my worst. If ICQ sells out I will be very disappointed at the best program I've seen
yet and I will not hesitate to uninstall it.
ICQ User
AOL charge its few users in Puerto Rico long distance bill because they don't have a local number here. And AOL has the annoying habit of having Internet pages exclusive to their subscribers, like the Spiderman (from Marvel Comics) Internet comic. If they get their claws on Mirabilis, expect them to do the same with Mirabilis and ICQ. I prefer to give my money to Mirabilis instead.
Modesto, CA.
I think it's interesting to see AOL taking lessons from Microsoft. "If
you can't beat 'em, buy em!". BTW I doubt AOL will charge for ICQ usage.
It is more likely that they will try to integrate advertising into the
program. I may not like AOL, but I'll take a neutral stance on this.
Let's all just wait and see what AOL does. Best case - they leave it
alone and it flourishes - I'll keep it and breath a sigh of relief.
Worst case scenario - AOL screws it up and makes it unusable - I, and
millions of others, will abandon ICQ for some other program and AOL
will stand there looking like an idiot for blowing so much money.
Cincinnati, Ohio
What a dreadful waste of the creative talents of the foundersof ICQ!
Having been on Prodigy for 18 months, and ICQ almost a year, I appreciate their indulgence in offering ICQ and its users an outstanding forum. Does this mean I won't have access to ICQ because AOL will take sole possession of ICQ?
If that happens, I elect to remain with Prodigy as my server rather than
use AOL, thus dropping ICQ and the excellent resources it provides.
Please, young men, don't be swayed by dollars being thrown at you.
You have a fine product...hats, berets, tam 'o shanters, chapeaux
off to you. But don't wear the hat of AOL! It won't suit you well.
Newport, Or
Have enjoyed ICQ for only a couple of months, after having listened to
numerous friends rave about it, I finally came into the age of it. LOVE
IT. AOL is the worst internet I have ever come across, and if they buy out
ICQ, the end of such a great program will be approaching. If they ever
impose a charge on it , or manipulate it in anyway that is negative to
the user, all of my friends and me will sure boycott the program. The end result : the end of such a perfect program.
ICQ User
As a net user who left AOL several years ago, I am very unhappy that AOL
will be buying ICQ. This take-over can only degrade ICQ.
ICQ User
I would rather send money to Israel if you will keep the ICQ program FAR
AWAY from AOL. With the number of users you have, a small fee will net you
more than AOL will offer. Like most of the other users of ICQ, I do not like
AOL. Please try to keep your program.
ICQ User
Please, I beg you do not let AOL take over ICQ. One big reason is we'll
never be able to connect for any length of time.
They only allow their customers to connect for only
45 mins. and then they shut off and have to go through reconnection to
get back on, which causes problems in downloading. Please.
Please don't do it. Thanks.
Ohio, USA:
I have been using ICQ almost from the beginning. I LOVE ICQ, and I love
it exactly as it is. You have one of the best programs going. Please do
not sell out to AOL. I have no problem with your desire to make money,
and you have definitely earned it; however, please find some other way
to do so?
It's this simple: if you sell our beloved ICQ to AOL, I will uninstalI ICQ from my computer. Period.
Published by Israel's Business Arena May 25, 1998