Web-based chatting in general becamebegan lessto popularlose popularity with the rise of [[instant messaging]] desktop applications in the late 1990s. [[ICQ]] was first released in November 1996. [[AOL Instant Messenger]] was released in May 1997. Yahoo! Pager, later renamed [[Yahoo! Messenger]], launched on 9 March 1998. AOL acquired ICQ's parent company Mirabilis on 8 June 1998. MSN Messenger from [[Microsoft]] launched MSN Messenger, later renamed [[Windows Live Messenger]] , debuted on 22 July 1999.
