Firstly let me clarify a few things, this post does not apply to Linux users but Windows users who use MSN, AIM, AOL or ICQ. Also the title should read "Why you should use Google Talk (or other Jabber client) over MSN, AIM or ICQ but that was too long ".

We all know MSN user's can't talk to AIM users and ICQ user can't talk to AOL users and so on. No one expects them to be able to either, it's the way we have come to accept instant messaging clients to work. No one is surprised that AOL don't make their IM protcol an open standard to allow MSN, AIM or ICQ to co-operate with AOL. It's just a fact we accept and it would be very odd if something like that were to happen.

Email. It too uses a protocol, only it's an open protocol and is the reason that we don't have MS Outlook/Outlook Express users not being able to talk to a user using software other than MS Outlook/Outlook Express for his/her email client. This is again something we have come to expect - That with any email client you use you will be able to email everyone else.

Google Talk, it's not the most popular and it's not the most featured IM client, but what makes it different to AIM, MSN, ICQ and AOL's IM clients? It uses open protocols for both voice chat and text chat. Meaning MSN, AIM, ICQ or AOL could easily allow you to add Google Talk users and you don't have to use Google Talk to talk to Google Talk users.

Imagine now having choice! Being able to use an IM client because it suits your needs better rather than being forced to use it because your friends do. The same way that you have a choice regarding which email client you'd rather use. We do need one standard open protocol for IM which has become a widely used medium for communication. That protocol is Jabber and is the protocol that Google Talk uses. Now it's true that there are lots of Jabber clients out there but none of them are made by Google which means none of them have the advantage of being marketed by a media giant. This is why Google Talk is important.

What can you do to help the adoption of an open protocol? Well at the very minimum you can get Google Talk or one of the many IM clients that interface with it and start using it alongside your current IM client(s). Perhaps your friends don't use it so tell them about it and why they should be. The most extreme stance you could take is to not use your old protocol in an attempt to push people who wish to contact you via IM use the Jabber protocol.



2 Comments

vortex566 Location: Joined: 07/06/07	So it would seem i now have to use this google talk to contact you ? damm well i often need your advice on many things so looks like ill be installing it tonight.

Chris Location: West Midlands, UK Joined: 24/03/05	Google Talk or any IM messenger that supports the open Jabber protocol. It's all about choice

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