Mirabilis (company)
Encyclopedia
Mirabilis is an Israel
i company that developed the ICQ
instant messaging program, a pioneer of online chatting that revolutionized communication over the Internet.
, father of Arik Vardi.
Goldfinger, Visiger, Vardi and Amir met while working for a Tel Aviv software company, Zapa Digital Arts, that specialized in three-dimensional graphic tools for the Internet. In 1996, they left Zapa and began to toy with ideas for new Internet innovations. They created ICQ in less than two months, but had no funding. Yossi Vardi, one of the founders of Israel Chemicals
, agreed to invest a few hundred thousand dollars to develop the technology.Mirabilis was established in a small apartment in San Jose, California, where Internet access was cheaper.
ICQ grew as people encouraged their friends to join so they could communicate with each other. This established a powerful network effect
as prospective users strongly preferred the system where their friends were likely to be.
AOL sold ICQ to Digital Sky Technologies
for $187.5 million on April 28, 2010.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i company that developed the ICQ
ICQ
ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed and popularized by the Israeli company Mirabilis, then bought by America Online, and since April 2010 owned by Mail.ru Group. The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase "I seek you"...
instant messaging program, a pioneer of online chatting that revolutionized communication over the Internet.
History
Mirabilis was founded in 1996 by Arik Vardi, Yair Goldfinger, Sefi Vigiser and Amnon Amir. It was purchased by America Online (AOL) for $407 million in 1998. Funding for Mirabilis came from Yossi VardiYossi Vardi
Joseph Vardi , is one of Israel's first high-tech entrepreneurs. For over 40 years he has founded and helped to build over 60 high-tech companies in a variety of fields, among them software, energy, Internet, mobile, electro-optics and water technology.-Biography:Joseph Vardi was born in Tel...
, father of Arik Vardi.
Goldfinger, Visiger, Vardi and Amir met while working for a Tel Aviv software company, Zapa Digital Arts, that specialized in three-dimensional graphic tools for the Internet. In 1996, they left Zapa and began to toy with ideas for new Internet innovations. They created ICQ in less than two months, but had no funding. Yossi Vardi, one of the founders of Israel Chemicals
Israel Chemicals
Israel Chemicals Ltd. , also known as ICL, is a multi-national Israeli manufacturing concern that develops, produces and markets fertilizers, metals and other special-purpose chemical products.-History:...
, agreed to invest a few hundred thousand dollars to develop the technology.Mirabilis was established in a small apartment in San Jose, California, where Internet access was cheaper.
ICQ grew as people encouraged their friends to join so they could communicate with each other. This established a powerful network effect
Network effect
In economics and business, a network effect is the effect that one user of a good or service has on the value of that product to other people. When network effect is present, the value of a product or service is dependent on the number of others using it.The classic example is the telephone...
as prospective users strongly preferred the system where their friends were likely to be.
AOL sold ICQ to Digital Sky Technologies
Digital Sky Technologies
Digital Sky Technologies or Mail.Ru Group is an international investment firm focused solely on the Internet sector. The firm was founded by Yuri Milner and emerged out of Mail.ru Group...
for $187.5 million on April 28, 2010.
See also
- Economy of IsraelEconomy of IsraelThe economy of Israel is a technologically advanced market economy, including a rapidly-developing high-tech and service sectors. As of 2010, Israel has the 24th largest economy in the world, and ranks 15th among 169 world nations on the UN's Human Development Index, which places it in the category...
- Science and technology in IsraelScience and technology in IsraelScience and technology in Israel is one of the country's most developed sectors. The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development in relation to gross domestic product , is amongst the highest in the world...
- Israeli inventions and discoveriesIsraeli inventions and discoveriesIsraeli inventions and discoveries have received worldwide attention since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Several of the discoveries included in this list were made by Israelis while staying at overseas research institutes.- Chemistry :...