As I explored ICQ, one of AOL's two free instant messaging programs, I ran headlong into its disparate collection of features. When testing ICQ, I felt like I was stuck on a crowded bus with loud characters whose destination didn't appear to be anywhere along my route. Sure, ICQ provides the things you would expect from an instant messaging program: regular text IMs, voice and video chats, and file transfer. But it also tacks on Xtraz--a mish-mash of avatars, games, and other activities (such as greeting-card messages) that appear randomly organized. ICQ displays a lack of business-oriented features.

When you drill down to individual features, ICQ disappoints on many levels. For starters, its basic messaging windows aren't exactly easy on the eyes. It's no simple trick to ignore the big animated ad at the bottom of the main contacts window and (at the time we tested) the annoying match-making ads on your text window--and they don't go away.

In addition, by default, both the main contacts screen and the text messaging window clutter up your desktop real estate with vertical Xtraz toolbars, Luckily, you can hide them with a quick click. Each toolbar shows a number of icons, some of which are hard to decipher. For example, a shopping cart bearing a horned toy turns out to be a link to a site where you can buy images for animated ICQ Devil icons; an artist's palette and paintbrush icon connect you to a service that will create your own caricature; a globe with sunglasses pops up two URLs--www.icq.com and www.universe.icq.com--which you can paste into a message.

You can personalize your messages by inserting an image (from ICQ's selection, which tends toward the cartoonish) to accompany your IMs. When you're firing text messages back and forth, you're surrounded by a slew of icons, images, tools, and irritating ads. I found the whole environment unpleasant and jarring, and I just wanted to get off that bus.

That said, ICQ's text messaging window does display easily identifiable icons for voice and video chats. When my editor and I tested PC-to-PC calling, we rated the voice quality as acceptable. We heard a hum and a hissing sound at separate times in the background, but each voice came through in one piece. We didn't encounter any echoes, though our voices did sound tinny.

Our video chat test results were disappointing. The video often broke up into tiles, giving it a mosaic-like appearance. Even when the video didn't turn blocky, we witnessed a lot of distortion. For example, my editor's small glasses ballooned into gargantuan goggles.

On a more positive note, ICQ's impressive security measures provide six sets of settings, including spam control, password requirements, user blocking, and authorization before adding your ICQ ID to others' contact lists.

Upshot: Despite the generally distracting interface, ICQ will serve you well if you interact mainly with family, friends, and only your closest office pals. Having copious amounts of spare time to explore the menus wouldn't hurt.

Aoife M. McEvoy