If you're looking for the most powerful instant-messaging tool currently available, look no farther than ICQ 2001b. Perhaps its only downfall is that it does not support video chat features.

The latest version of ICQ maintains the same basic interface that the utility has had for years. New to the program is the ability to add and remove an extra feature, such as a spell-checker, after you've installed the software. ICQ 2001b provides a Napster-like file-sharing feature, which lets you open up a folder on your hard drive for your ICQ contacts to access. Basic file send and receive features are also available.

ICQ still offers the best, most robust search feature in the business, as you can track down other ICQ users by name, nickname, e-mail address, age, country, keyword, and a variety of other criteria. You have the ability to authorize or decline certain users' requests to add you to their contact lists, and you can make yourself visible or invisible to specific users or the entire ICQ network.

As with the other messaging tools, you can use ICQ for one-on-one and multiuser chat sessions. You can also send messages to mobile phones via SMS and place PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone voice calls with ICQ. And Palm OS and Windows CE handhelds support wireless capability. The only significant missing feature in this version of ICQ is video chat and Webcam support. Aside from these, ICQ 2001b is the Internet's most complete instant-messaging tool.