XMPP, is a ratified standard from IETF to allow IM interoperability. Jabber, IBM's Sametime work using XMPP. The industry is abuzz with rumours that Google is about to bring out their IM application in the market (Google recently acquired Picasa which has an IM client called Hello, working on proprietary standards, which allows users to share photos...I guess Google's offering will be an extension of this along with Blogger, gmail and search. Probably they will come up with interoperatability between Gmail and their IM client which will be a breakthrough).
At the same time, MS announced that its MS LCS will be an open standards based client, which will work using another protocol called SIMPLE. Now 1. SIMPLE is not yet ratified by IETF (i do not understand why they have two separate standards XMPP and SIMPLE)
2. MS's LCS is a part implementation of SIMPLE just like IE doesnt respect standards ( I guess tehy want to do the same thing to IM landscape as to what their IE did to NS).
3. Google's implementation of XMPP will fragment this space once again. There was some light at the end of tunnel after years of heated debate and frustrations, when AOL and Yahoo announced that their IM systems will interoperate with MS LCS
I dont think people will convert enmasse to Google, but yes, users of Blogger/gmail will start using this as an alternate as it will provide better functionality. (For example since I use Google to search and blogger as my webmail, Google toolbar became an obvious choice as compared to yahoo toolbar)
Jabber however has announced that it will develop a SIMPLE to XMPP gateway (why have two protocols in the first place?)
I am not a history buff, but I would love to know how email evolved? Comments anyone?
One potential application of SIMPLE is for devices to do presence detection. Fo example with the mobile revolution came the frustration of getting calls at any time of the day or night (yeah Alok, I know you well) (BTW, do not try this with me as when I am sleeping I switch off my mobile phone). Now the problem with mobile is that it being more personal, ppl do not think twice before calling you as they would have with a POTS.
Imagine the possibility that if I could update my status on the mobile phone, and anybody who has me in his phone list/address book can get that information on his mobile phone. It will really solve one big problem and it would give a better convenience to the users.
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There is precedent for having multiple protocols. E-mail evolved from proprietary systems, into X.400 and SMTP. X.400 had a lot of early traction, but was too complex. SMTP may have won out because of its simplicity to implement, and the ease of getting interoperability to work.
Given those criteria, the only thing SIMPLE has going for it is Microsoft, which was an early promoter of X.400 as well...
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