AOL Launches Its Own Social Network Around ICQ

Overhype

from the it's-about-time... dept

I’ve had this discussion with a few different people, but no one has been adequately able to explain why none of the companies that have large instant messaging users have jumped into the social networking fray by simply leveraging the instant messaging buddy lists. It’s tailor made for that sort of thing. In fact, instant messaging is basically an early social networking product. It’s easy to turn that into a Friendster-wannabe service, since everyone already has their friends listed. There’s no empty room problem where no one wants to join when no one else is there. Also, because people use IM all the time, they have a direct tie-in to keep people coming back and using the service – rather than most social networking services, which seem fun for a week or two and then lose almost all utility. It appears that, finally, one of the major players is starting to grasp this idea as AOL is launching “ICQ Universe” for their ICQ instant messaging program. Of course, ICQ’s usage is dwindling compared to that of other services (including AOL’s other AIM product).