Many of the features found in contemporary instant messaging programs were first introduced in PowWow.

The program also had several innovative features such as allowing users to talk with each other using VoIP, a shared whiteboard, a built-in speech synthesizer, WAV sound file playing, offline transmittal of instant messages via POP/SMTP, and the ability for users to share their web surfing experience concurrently by redirecting either party to a new URL when another navigates elsewhere.

In the late 1990s, Tribal Voice began to OEM the PowWow software in order to increase market share.

In 1998, original founder McAfee brought in Joseph Esposito, formerly the president and CEO of Encyclopædia Britannica, to run the company.

In late 2000, Tribal Voice announced PowWow will end on January 19th, 2001 because it couldn't attract new users.