Cause of Death
Outcompeted
A superior competitor captured the market. Signal scores typically decline for 12–24 months before the shutdown announcement.
What Happened
ICQ coined the concept of a contact list and away status in 1996, launching what became instant messaging culture. AOL acquired it in 1998 for $287M. It survived longer than almost every contemporary, finally shutting down in June 2024 after decades of declining usage. WhatsApp and Telegram finished what AIM started.