OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2011. Mail.ru Group (LSE:MAIL) has implemented interoperability of Russian Internet’s (Runet’s) two largest messengers – Mail.ru Agent (http://agent.mail.ru) and ICQ (www.icq.com). The successful integration of protocols on the server side will allow users to communicate to each other without having to register additional accounts. The interoperability between Mail.ru Agent and ICQ is another important step towards Mail.ru Group’s formation of an integrated internet communication platform.

The new development will allow a user of Mail.ru Agent to communicate to their friends who prefer ICQ even if they do not have an ICQ account. ICQ users do not have to install Agent and register in it if they need to communicate with some of Agent users.

Both messengers now work with a common database, enabling users to search for friends more easily regardless of which messenger service they adopt.

It is important to note that the new functionality has been implemented on the server side, allowing users that have been added from another network to communicate seamlessly in almost all versions of Mail.Ru Agent and ICQ, including mobile platforms.

"The concept of a unified communications space means no artificial boundaries between different services. Such restrictions are uncomfortable for users and we are working to remove them. The interoperability has delivered a new opportunity for Mail.Ru Agent and ICQ audiences to communicate with each other and is a welcomed improvement that will delight our users and enable them to work more actively with our popular products,"– said Dmitry Grishin, Co-Founder & CEO, Mail.Ru Group.

Mail.Ru Agent is one of the most popular instant messengers in the Russian market. Its monthly audience (without Web-Agent) is 21 million. Mail.Ru Agent is available for users of Windows and Mac, as well as mobile platforms including Java, Symbian, Windows Mobile, iOS and Android.

In addition to multi-protocol instant messaging, some of the key features of the Windows-based version, include free SMS, voice and video calls, online games and a microblogging service. The unique features of the Mobile Mail.Ru Agent include a "thin" mail client, integrated maps with traffic jams and more.

ICQ is the world famous messenger which became part of Mail.Ru Group in July 2010 and is closely integrated with other projects of the Group. The total monthly audience of the product in Russia is 15.6 million people (30.8 million worldwide). Messenger includes a full range of options that may be required by users including text, voice and video communications, conference, file sharing, free SMS, online games, notification of new mail and much more. In addition, ICQ versions exist for all popular platforms such as Windows, Mac, Java, Windows Mobile, Symbian, iPhone, Android.