ICQ

There is a large variety of instant messaging applications out there that struggle to provide haste and quality. Only a few have managed to make a name throughout the years, with ICQ probably being one of them. It's a standard chatting application, with various features that might just convince you to keep it around for more than a try.

One of the first things that needs to be mentioned is that the application is targeted at nearly all mobile devices as well as computers, allowing you to stay connected virtually anywhere you are. Needless to say that it only uses a little system resources, running smooth on most configurations.

The interface is nothing out of the ordinary, but that is subject to change due to the available customization options. There is a decent list of skins you can apply, with the possibility to just select any color you consider blends in with your style.

In case you don't already have an ICQ account, you can still use the application to get in touch with your buddies from most popular social networks like Facebook, Yahoo! or Google Mail. You can set up these accounts so you easily connect to one of them without having to enter your credentials each time.

The application's instant message window is made to be clearly visible, both by the amount of space taken on your desktop and decent size of text fields. All of these can be adjusted, and conversations can be enhanced with a breathtaking amount of emoticons and toons.

You can also use the application to set up voice or video calls for more possibilities. This makes it efficient as you can easily get in touch with someone via a mobile device. There is also integrated support for games you can easily switch to from the conversation window.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that ICQ is one of those applications that define instant messaging. All available features make sure you easily and quickly get in touch with friends and family, while the fully customizable interface makes it suitable for any environment.