I suppose you could call me an ICQ "fanboy" of sorts because I find an endearing quality to that instant messenger client and service. I also understand that when it comes to instant messaging, most people use Windows Live Messenger – and that is not just a USA-only thing by the way. People the world over use Windows Live as their preferred means of IM’ing. Why? Mainly because it came provided with Windows.

Were you to ask me what the best instant messenger programs are, my answers are AIM 7, ICQ 7 and Trillian Astra. I’ll speak more on ICQ 7 in a moment, but the entire reason why those three are far superior compared to others is because they have integrated social networking. If you want to connect your Facebook and/or Twitter to any of those, go right ahead. It’s all built-in, and all easy to configure and use.

Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger even in their latest iterations are dinosaurs. Sure, you can trade messages between Y! and WLive users, but not anybody else. In addition, both clients have a seriously wonky way of operating. They’re big, bloated and have to "think" too much to do simple things.

And the really sad part? ICQ 7, which is far less used compared to Y! and WLive in the USA, beats both of them in every way.

Here’s why:

1. A proper release of memory usage when sent to the tray.

Said honestly, this blew me away. When ICQ is open and you’re chatting away with people, the memory usage in the task manager is around 20,000 to 30,000K – and for IM programs that’s completely normal. However, when IM windows are closed and ICQ is sent to the tray, the memory usage dives down to under 3,000K. That is amazing. It shows that the client was programmed right.

Don’t you wish other programs like those other messengers and Firefox did that? I sure wish they did. When memory is released properly like that, it promotes a solid stable client because it "knows" when and when not to use system resources.

2. Facebook and Twitter integration work flawlessly.

You can post status updates to either service from ICQ 7 now, just as with AIM 7. One client can post to three services at once. In this case ICQ, Facebook, Twitter. Works great.

3. Fast. Really fast.

The programming from ICQ 6.5 to 7 was definitely a major overhaul. The client is so light you’d think it was one of those lightweight IM alternatives like Miranda or Pidgin, but it isn’t. This is a from-service offering. One that’s very light on its feet from startup to usage to shutdown and everything in between.

Yahoo! and Windows Live really need to step up their game

It’s just plain sad that ICQ of all things is now outrunning and outgunning Y! and WLive. Instant messaging and social networking work with each other very well. Why haven’t Yahoo! or Microsoft realized this yet? Why do they continue to use IM clients that are "YOU STAY WITHIN OUR NETWORK ONLY" style? Why are they such memory hogs?

Laziness on their part?

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