Well, I like this new version, and shall look forward to version 8.
I have ICQ pro, but there is ICQ light, which is a simpler version and does not have all the features of the pro. Unfortunately the pro is old and needs to be updated, which they will not do until at least next year.
Aol have just brought out a new version, beta, which has more features too.
I think it is all to do with broadband and being able to webcam and have conversations with people and of course people using mobile phones, but then you can get IMs for mobile phones, so that you only have one IM with all you instant messengers on one software, unfortunately you have to pay for them, one of them being Agile Messenger and the other IM+, Agile Messenger being slightly cheaper.