Global InformationOdigo Messenger information
| Founder | Moshe Zilberstein |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Herzliya Pituah, Israel |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Avner Ronen Gabriel Matsliach |
| Services | Instant messaging Social Network |
Odigo Messenger was an early social networking service based on instant messaging. Odigo believed in connecting and forming friendships: members would "meet" if two or more visited the same web site simultaneously. Odigo Messenger allowed members to connect to other IM networks, such as ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.
Odigo was purchased for an estimated $20 million by the Israeli company Comverse Technology in 2002. Comverse leveraged Odigo server software for instant messaging solutions in cell phones. However, since Comverse had no real interest in maintaining a generic IM service, it eventually shut down the free service in 2004.
The service first became available in 1999 and carried multiple brands during a spell of affiliations with different web services provider. Although originally made available by Odigo, Inc., the service was supplied by Comverse, who used it to help innovate and forward their wireless products.
The word Odigo comes from the Greek "οδηγώ" which means "I guide/lead/drive/steer".[1]
- ^ "οδηγώ". WordReference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.