Practically everyone in Australia used MSN Messenger. Once it died, most people switched to Google Talk, then to Facebook Messenger. Messenger is still the most popular by far - last I checked, it had around 2x the number of users as the second most popular (which I think was WhatsApp).
ICQ was popular too, but just for one feature: free SMS. In an era where every SMS cost $0.25, being able to send them for free was incredibly useful. (it never cost money to receive phone calls or SMS in Australia, only to send them)
I am curious where you grew up.
In NYC everyone used AIM or AOL.
I know in the Philippines they used ICQ.
Actually, I am curious on what everyone was using at the time.
Ontario Canada, we all used MSN.
Tennessee here. AIM for most people, ICQ for nerds. MSN was for our parents.
Practically everyone in Australia used MSN Messenger. Once it died, most people switched to Google Talk, then to Facebook Messenger. Messenger is still the most popular by far - last I checked, it had around 2x the number of users as the second most popular (which I think was WhatsApp).
ICQ was popular too, but just for one feature: free SMS. In an era where every SMS cost $0.25, being able to send them for free was incredibly useful. (it never cost money to receive phone calls or SMS in Australia, only to send them)