> that you couldn't monetize because people would run to the next platform My anecdotal experience with ICQ in the 90's was the same. It was dominant, but when

> that you couldn't monetize because people would run to the next platform My anecdotal experience with ICQ in the 90's was the same. It was dominant, but when they updated to include a modest banner ad at the bottom of the message window, a substantial number of my friends took that as the last straw and moved (mostly to MSN). A shame, since ICQ was a pretty decent messenger for its time.