Users worldwide can choose from 13 animated male and female human characters, as well as 10 creature avatars.

The features of the human characters can then be altered, including their hair, eyes and skin-tone to their face-shape, age, clothing and accessories.

Meanwhile, the creature avatars, including holiday icons, aliens and dragons, can also be altered using a palette of colours.

The companies also announced the creation of the ICQ Devil Factory that lets users change their avatars using Oddcast's conversational character software.

Once created the avatars can be embedded in users' messages and can exchange stock verbal sayings with correspondents.

For instance, when an emoticon is used in an ICQ session, the avatars will speak using pre-recorded sayings in male and female voices. These sayings include "I'm Happy!," "Take a Hike!" and "I'm In Love".

Ronen Arad, VP product marketing for ICQ., said: "With Oddcast's advanced avatar technology and the new ICQ Devil Factory, millions of ICQ users worldwide can create customised, responsive avatars that will bring their instant messaging sessions to life," said

As part of an introductory offer, ICQ users will be able to customise their animated avatars in the new ICQ Devil Factory, and display them during instant messaging sessions, at no charge.

The firm said it will then charge for individual characters, with prices varying for local markets.