Reacting to the loss of traction of the once widely popular instant messenger ICQ, Russia’s Mail.ru Group earlier this month released a fully redesigned version of the program. Android users are the first to enjoy the new messaging and VoIP functions.
The updated version offers free video calls, group chats and stickers. Users can also create group chats adding unlimited numbers of friends, and can send photos and videos directly to all participants.
ICQ allows taking and sending pictures and videos within the app, which means that users will not need to switch to the camera application.
In addition to the standard smileys, ICQ developers have added a few sets of stickers that can be sent to a contact or a group.
Mail.ru Group is confident of the future of the service: “Our mobile user base on Android doubled in 2013, and we see that the number of users on other mobile platforms is growing too,” the company’s press service told East-West Digital News.
