History of creation ICQ
"Tiny Israeli company Mirabilis has taken the Internet storm", - wrote in February, 1998 San Francisco Chronicle. Their program ICQ in the first year has typed 7,5 million subscribers, and later the little more than their five years became 100 million Simplicity, availability and openness ICQ have allowed it to acquire improbably fast infinite set of additions and the improvements, millions new admirers drawing attention worldwide. The success of founders ICQ, four twenty years’ guys also was improbable, presented to people the ne method to find friends and to communicate, overcoming distances and borders, and is fantastic on it grown rich.
It is history ICQ according to Jim Dattona, the eyewitness of events working over the similar project in other company, Activerse, lost ICQ. Also it is a part of history of the world of modern technologies. The world where there is a place to enthusiasm and unselfishness, thirst of a profit and espionage, intrigues and the big good luck to seize which - dream of many and destiny, alas, units.
1997. Innocent entertainments
Command Dattona worked then over creation of the new environment for virtual offices. A prototype have shown to several friends, their reaction discouraged: "it is nice, but I would not began to use it". However, one of possibilities of this software has interested the majority of those who has got acquainted with it, - possibility to see when other employees of the company are in an interactive mode.
Activerse did not know then, but has soon found out, that other group of programmers rushed with similar idea some months. It were Arik Vardi, YAyr Goldfinger, Sefi Vigiser and Amnon Amir - senior pupils from Tel Aviv which have created company Mirabilis and in November, 1996 have manufactured the small appendix under name ICQ (it is said as "I seek you" - "I search for you"). And this thingummy was better than that, that has made Activerse. And worst of all there was that, writes Datton, that these boys distributed the software for nothing and, apparently, did not gather at all on it though sometime to earn. The number of users ICQ grew, and grew more fast, than at any other software in history. To the middle of year in asset ICQ there were millions persons, basically teenagers, many of which used it every day. Activerse, however, was happy to concede such market to boys from Mirabilis. She has decided to concentrate on payments and corporate clients. But again was late: the ICQ-server for the enterprises has been manufactured Mirabilis in August, 1997.
Market IM fast grew. In October in Activerse have called from Microsoft: its representatives invited in Redmont that they could familiarise with the standard of protocol IM developed in corporation. They have gone. According to Dattona, this standard testified only that Microsoft tries to push off fast speeding up train Mirabilis from rails.
1998. How to become the millionaire
Despite wild popularity and fast growth, in the beginning of 1998 ICQ had not the biggest base of users. America Online, in 1997 having noticed phenomenal success IM, has altered the program for an instant exchange of messages, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), and integrated it in Netscape Navigator. As each client AOL by definition was registered user AIM, for it was available an order of 10 million users. However speed from which unpretentious ICQ typed new subscribers, AIM and did not dream. It was clear, that on the size and on loyalty audience ICQ will soon eclipse “aolovskuyu”. And it thus, that Mirabilis not a stiver did not spend for marketing and advertising.
It was clear at that, that other giant, Microsoft, loses on it fast advancing market. Uvlekshis fight with Netscape for superiority in the market of Internet browsers, Microsoft passed that did not lay on a surface, namely - that millions people which these browsers connect with the Network, are torn off from each other, time cannot communicate directly. Microsoft has decided to correct position, having absorbed upstart Mirabilis.
It is necessary to tell, that Mirabilis by then has already a little matured. In it was an order of hundred employees, mainly in Tel Aviv and in New York where the servers serving ICQ have been established. But as a matter of fact it remained group of the teenagers who did not have experience in a corporate world. Millions clients did not bring it any incomes, they did not have a plan how to start to earn, and they, possibly, with ease would agree on offer Microsoft if has not interfered Yosi Vardi, the father of head Mirabilis Arika Vardi, rigid and charismatic, one of the largest Israeli investors. Yosi has declared, that Microsoft in vain considers itself as the unique company on the earth which wishes to have ICQ.
In June, 1998 ICQ has got not Microsoft, and AOL. The huge corporation has laid out to yesterday’s schoolboys, fathers-founders ICQ, 287 million dollars cash, without any conventions of type of options and warrants.
As to Microsoft it has bought small startap Flash Communications and immediately declared the plans to manufacture MSN Messenger. Well and at ICQ by the end of this year was more subscribers, than even at most AOL. And it still was in the lead on Download.com, the world’s largest site, whence Internet users can load the program which has liked them. ICQ loaded one million times a week.
1999. Fight of titans
The success has involved attention of other telecommunication monsters in technology IM, afraid to remain on a roadside unexpectedly appeared and on eyes of the inflated market. Activerse in long run has got to Boston Internet conglomerate CMGI, becoming one of thirty companies which in full or in part belonged to it, to its branches and its funds.
The new holder managed to finish off the company in stages: Activerse have united with three other companies, having formed CMGI Solutions; then CMGI has purchased Tribal Voice, working in the same, as Activerse, a segment; then has given all workings out in the field of IM-technologies to the new branch; again all has altered, having united Tribal Voice with other company. In general, writes Datton, "at CMGI was more stomachs, than at a cow, and they have digested us in each of them".
In the meantime Microsoft at last has manufactured MSN Messenger which, by the way, in any way did not consider that old, developed by them the standard. And AOL has entered desperate struggle for preservation of the lead in market IM. The first MSN Messenger had pleasant possibility - its users could communicate with clients AIM freely. But AOL has immediately reconstructed the servers so that it to terminate. Microsoft has manufactured the "patch" eliminating these a problem. And some more weeks two giants, to admiration of journalists, thrashed one another, not giving rest to the users. At last Microsoft has receded. Its new version MSN Messenger manufactured in November, 1999, did not try to establish any more connection with AIM. But AOL continues to beat off from other companies, including AT and T, Tribal Voice, Odigo and Trillian which still undertake attempts to unite the Network. Obviously, it appreciates attention only the clients, though till now and has not thought up how to transform it into money, speaks maliciously Datton.
On it the legend “aski” in its exposition comes to an end. But the life proceeds. Microsoft now tries to bypass AOL on the other hand, using a method which has allowed it to beat out Netscape in war for the market of browsers: it integrated MSN Messenger into new operating system Windows XP and has perfectly expanded functionality of the program, having included, for example, possibility to conduct interactive videoconferences. AOL has answered that has offered clients ICQ possibility to send the message on mobile phones. Microsoft parried the contract with Vodafone: users of mobile phones can not only receive messages, but also answer users Messenger, and also read e-mail on servers Hotmail, belonging Microsoft. By the way, in Russia where “aska” is the most popular IM-client, it too works - using company "Новософт" workings out, "Mobile telesystems" have begun commercial operation of the service allowing subscribers of a GSM-network to use ICQ from a mobile phone in Novosibirsk.
The following course for AOL. By 2005, predictably, an order of 500 million clients IM will send one another more than 3 mlrd messages in day. Conducting this powerful chorus, it is necessary to be overcome, whether not so?
Company Mirabilis - authors ICQ
Northern part of Tel Aviv has glory of one of the most expensive areas of Israel - here, the top of the Israeli corporate world lives in high-rise houses and magnificent country houses. The set of the firms attending to computer business Here places. Recently incomes of the Israeli high tech make about 10 percent of profit of the country, and this figure increases. I think, you should not represent companies VocalTec, VDONet and CheckPoint. Company Mirabilis, owner ICQ, not last in this number.
By a recognition of one of my friends, the network epoch to ICQ kept the simple user alone with the monitor, and verbalisations about ease of network dialogue were accompanied by long process "zabivaniya arrows". With the advent of ICQ millions people had an opportunity to communicate among themselves in real time, despite of oflaynovyie distances between them.
ICQ (I seek you) - in a translation into Russian the name of this program means "I search for you".
So, there is some history - in November, 1996 four young and, certainly, talented programmers - Sefi Vigiser, Arik Vardi, YAir Goldfinger and Amnon Amir - have manufactured the very first version of program ICQ. Pay attention: if YAir and Amnon have received degree of the bachelor in mathematics area Sefi and Arik were limited to complete secondary education. Having made such rash act as a writing perspective freeware the program, they pochli for the best to unite and create company Mirabilis. Why “Mirabilis”? It is said that parents of one of souchrediteley the future startapa sat and touched various female names after that their son climbed in the Network and checked, whether there is something similar or still is not present. Have stayed on Mirabilis.
The history of the name of program ICQ much more zaputanney - anybody any more does not remember, to whom has come to mind this lung for storing reduction. However, anybody also did not assume, that for about a year the quantity using ICQ will transfer citizens for 6 million. However it has occurred - the initial idea was correct and circumstances have developed in the suitable image. Now Mirabilis tries to solve quite "adult" problems, remaining thus hardly expanded garage company with usual "garage" touch of sloppiness.
And, certainly, “Mirabilis” has made vsamdelishnuyu revolution in the field of network dialogue - do not forget about it. I have visited office of the dear company and have talked to several employees “Mirabilis”. First my interlocutor - YAran, the branch manager of marketing.
- In what the basic idea ICQ, according to Mirabilis?
- Idea you see on the screen is a list of your friends and possibility to communicate with them when they are in the Network - it is not necessary to wait, when they will check up e-mail and it is not necessary to keep ringing by phone, asking when your friend will deign to come on channel IRC. Do not forget and about program possibilities to send a file, not segmenting it for mail servers and not using intermediate ftp-servers…
- Whether you agree, what ICQ - only more simple method of use of ideology IRC?
- Well is not present, it absolutely other. Ours the program concerns standard ULS - User Located Service. The program finds the temporary IP-address of each of users and establishes between them a continuous communication, rendering practically all services of personal communications… For example, though we also did not expect it, but ICQ began a hit to play among fans in games with one another through the Network. And as to IRC recollect how you sat there hours, expecting friends…
- How many the person today work in the company?
- Nearby 50. 16 software developers, and the others - technical user support and marketing service.
- Here is how. The majority of users are assured, that such concept of remarkable company "Мирабилис" is absent.
- You are absolutely not right! First of all, give we will divide strategy questions into two sections: ICQ for private users and for corporate clients. Today the second group gives to our company the lion’s share of incomes. Among our clients such giants, as the Swedish telephone company and other major concerns of Germany and Sweden. Many of them are not connected completely not with Internet business. We grant them special decisions on creation of an internal information highway. Having taken for basis ICQ, we have created intranetovskie, not connected with an external world, systems of communications. Any officer working in the telephone company of Sweden, has possibility at any moment "to reprimand" the required employee. On a video-carpet. Sale intranetovskih corporate systems gives to us today very much and very good income. Though we do not forget and about possibilities of reception of incomes of private users ICQ…
- You all the same are going to take money from users?
- No, today our strategy consists on sale of the advertising area to the third companies which will be visible to each of 5 million users of the program.
- How it will look?
- In a line of the message between information line and the text will appear lineechka on which, depending on data of the client, there will be an advertisement. Each of using the program gave the data in which it is mentioned from what the countries and cities, how old is he and so on… Being based on these data, we can suggest to define precisely to advertisers the potential clients.
- M-yes, at me it is written, that I from Barbados…
- Strange, very many they from Macao, judging by answers of users write, that, Macao can be ranked as leaders of the Internet market… However, do not forget, that the majority of users nevertheless questionnaires and that full enough fill in the most interesting even if the country is taken "from a ceiling" the age is all the same exact, and in the modern world the age is frequently more important than the residing country.
- So, space sale in system ICQ with allowance for specificity of users. Whether means it transfer of lists of users and addresses of their e-mail to advertisers?
- We transmit to advertisers only statistical data, and at all personal data of subscribers. However on conditions of registration of a subscription the company reserves the right commercial use of those data which the user has informed on itself. As thus we oblige nobody to inform on ourselves those or other data everyone who is afraid of a spam, can not indicate own address simply.
- You can declare officially what company Mirabilis will not levy money for use of the program and service?
- Unfortunately, no… I can not Definitively tell. The only thing that is true, it that the company strategy for today consists on sale of advertising space.
- Whether it seems to you, that such uncertainty leads to occurrence of panic hearings among users…
- You cannot present to yourself at all, what hearings are born round program ICQ! All of us forces try to explain a company item, but, unfortunately, effect is received by the return - each our message acquires hearings and guesses. Furthermore do not forget, that daily us join 30 thousand persons.
- Not so long ago the message has been published, that Netscape has entered into the agreement with provider America Online, that program AOL Message Assistant which on the idea is competitor ICQ will be built in browser Netscape. How to you such news?
- Normal news. Today programs of class ICQ - the last peep of a fashion and top of requests of the user. Hence, sooner or later giants of the computer market will be simply obliged to leave on a war track for lead in this sector. In Netscape Communications for a long time already looked narrowly at our market. At the same time AOL has already built the program and whatever left unfinished it seemed, the part of users has chosen it. And here they have decided to unite in approach to market ULS… Well, to us it is favourable - one competitor became less.
- And to you "mighty of this world" did not address?
- O. And not once. There were circulations both from Microsoft, and from Netscape, and from a number of other computer giants. But at present we do not have the partnership similar to pact Netscape-AOL.
- In a word, Bill Gates yet has not purchased you?
- We have manufactured the special version for users of products Microsoft. It was in general usual version ICQ, but with little changes.
For example, there there was no choice of the vocal program of which the user wishes to take advantage, and it was simply offered to include at once Microsoft NetMeeting. However, we much for whom have manufactured specialised versions, not only for Microsoft. Negotiations on cooperation expansion are conducted, but while anything sensational I can not inform.
- It is represented to me, that at Mirabilis there are only two ways of development. Or to sell itself Microsoft, or to remain independent, having gone on public issue. How you are going to live? Whether there is any information which you are ready to offer the potential buyers in case of public issue?
- We have a traffic level comparable with Yahoo, Altavista and the largest Internet servers. We involve investments into development of our project, but I of anything certain cannot tell about plans of issue.
- You, possibly, heard about a problem of the Russian letter “yu”…
- When we created the program, nobody knew, that it will win such popularity. And believe to me, nobody knew, that Russian-speaking users will be so much. But we develop.
We had new more powerful servers in the USA, and there were Russian-speaking workers - since October at us their two.
- Whether there are at you plans of creation of localised versions ICQ?
- Basically, we weigh possibility of the circulation to any company which attends to transfer of programs on different languages, but, under our data, more than 60 % transmit the information in English.
- And what with new versions?
- For Windows any grandiose new version it is not planned, we work over versions for Java and Mac where soon there will be releases.
Having talked with YAranom, I have departed to a hall of group of support and have had a talk with children who answer letters and questions of users.
- What question is especially popular?
- Any hearings: when ICQ becomes paid when we at last will be closed (burst of laughter), well and, of course, people constantly ask to help them with restoration of the lost password.
- And it is possible?
- If the person remembers number or at least the initials and a mailing address to restore the password it is possible also we for it in this question with pleasure we will help. Unas help all!
- That is each user has the right to technical support from the company?
- The answer within 24 hours is guaranteed! Moreover, is such who, not trusting e-mail, call to us! Yes-yes, even from America. However we urge all to be economical and to be limited to dispatch of mail messages.
- You receive what else questions?
- Very many write us gratitude letters, say, that ICQ has turned their life.
There are even married couples which have got acquainted thanks to our program. Here recently all our company has received the collective invitation to wedding of two users. The groom the Australian, the bride from Sweden. Other case - the person who in an operating time on the computer has tested heart attack and has asked on ICQ to cause the interlocutor to it first aid. Have caused. It is said that our program already became the reason for several divorces - spouses were jealous one another of someone from sheet contact.
- And how many messages you receive in day?
- On the average about one and a half thousand messages. Well and in days of issue of new versions, quantity of questions and circulations increases to 2,5 thousand!
- Your work is limited to answers to questions?
- Recently we began to help to users to be organised in groups on interests. We create ICQ-forums. People address to us, and we hang out on the title page of the reference to their groups.
- Whether you use templates for answers to users?
- Officially is not present, however if the answer precisely repeats previous we use a basis of the last answer.
Of course, the cheerful job at these tel-avivskih students - to answer every day one and a half thousand questions…
At last I have communicated with Mishey, one of Russian-speaking programmers Mirabilis.
- When, whence you have arrived, how for a long time in Israel, how for a long time in ICQ?
- In Mirabilis I work from the beginning of October, 1997. Before long worked in VocalTec. And in “Mirabilis” only three and a half a month. That I do, practically has no direct relation actually to ICQ. This new direction, something like a chat with especially flexible and hierarchically constructed functions of administration. Actually, these functions also are the strength of the future product which is badly executed in analogues. Such here generally the server and administrative project. I hope, that in the spring this system already leaves, and all learn, what yes as. It, perhaps, everything, as to the professional party.
- Well as all? You have not told, when you have arrived to Israel where you studied and all that sort of thing.
- Well. I live in Israel about 93 years. Studied in MIEMe on evening branch during four and a half years if it is possible to name it study. Has in the middle served in Red Army. It, actually, everything, that I can tell about myself. Ah yes, how I have got in Mirabilis? Cовершенно standard by - has simply come under the announcement. From VocalTec I have left because it became boring and it would be desirable something new, and Mirabilis, in my opinion, abruptly enough from the point of view "here to work". It is the interesting company.
- You work in the most abrupt Internet firm for today. What sensations at you in this occasion?
- Well, pride?. I do not know, it is simply interesting and pleasant to be such Internet meynstrimom. One and a half years ago in VocalTec I felt as then the Internet telephony was the hottest direction.
- Whether you will tell to our readers, in what company you are going to work next year? It very much would help them with correct employment.
- I can tell nothing about it. I worked in many places with variable success. Sometimes - it is successful, it is sometimes unsuccessful: in general, the analyst from me bad.
- Today a fashionable theme - conversations about offline-online integration, for example, about a hypothetical house server which operates teapots and other simple devices. A question as delirium - whether you move in this direction?
- The matter is that all aforesaid - is more question of integration with "iron". The protocol, as is known, will endure all, and the question consists in the one for whom all it is necessary. If manufacturers hardware have a necessity to introduce ICQ they will take care of it: will purchase the licence and everything, that is necessary.
And as to servers which operate teapots: include them and switch off, I badly represent it to myself. To me it is not so clear, to whom in general such wonderful server is necessary.
- There is a myth about the programmers-workaholics working in the garage companies, like "Paragraph" or the same “Mirabilis”. They ostensibly work for 24 hours a day. How you spend the evenings?
- I just a bad example: I kill time as will be received. Certainly, now I work more than worked in VocalTec’е. It is an interest question that is while it is interesting - it is worked, and if it is uninteresting, what sense to sit? The problem that a lot of time takes away crawling on the Internet, is such infection of which it is very difficult to get rid. Very much stirs to work though it is direct with work it is connected.
- Whether you read something in a Russian-speaking part of the Network, whether can note any projects?
- I come every day on anekdot.ru and sometimes I visit "the Evening Internet" though last not very much it is pleasant to me. And it is more anywhere, perhaps, also I do not happen. Work, whether you know.
Source: max.kr.ua
