RSSFacebook to launch Web-based instant messaging service
By Tim Conneally | Published March 14, 2008, 5:06 PM
Sources have confirmed to BetaNews that Facebook will be launching a multi-platform instant messaging service built into a user's profile page.
Based upon the open source Jabber platform, the IM service will be Web-based only, as Facebook doesn't currently have any software client developers, one source said. Blog TechCrunch, which first reported the news, says the IM service could be rolled out to the public next week, but our source wasn't given a specific date.
Social.im, the third party developer of an existing IM client for Facebook, will see its application become unnecessary. But the site's move to create a built-in IM service should not have been a surprise to many, and the Social.im developers knew it was coming.
Such functionality has already been adopted by Google with its ownGtalk service, which has a Web-based component that resides in a user's Gmail account. Other Web-based IM services like Meebo have seen moderate success due to their portability, but software clients still rule the industry.
MySpace attempted break into the market with its own software IM client linked to user profiles that integrated voice-chat features. However, adoption of the client has been minimal, as AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo remain dominant.
It's unlikely that Facebook's Web-based IM service will be attractive to anyone other than devoted Facebook users, but the feature is important as it provides another reason for users to stay on the site. Although Facebook is one of the leading destinations on the Internet, it's user base doesn't tend to stick around for long periods unless they are looking at photos, which negatively impacts advertising -- the site's only current revenue model.
Now this is where the power of Jabber/XMPP will show to it fullest. It is ridiculously easy to implement this with Jabber/XMPP. You know... there is a reason why Google-talk is based on Jabber. ;-)
Facebook would do a very, very stupid move to not base its IM service on Jabber.
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Case in point. WHY? I mean I know Myspace did it too, but No one uses it I know of. we either use MSN, or Xfire for gamers.
Why in the world add yet another IM? I just never will understand that. as it is many people have to use something like trillian to get them all in one. This just makes it worse... IDK why they can not specilize in what they do and leave it be. Both Myspace and Facebook were fine, now they got to be in all this other stuff, and quite frankly it cheapens all aspects of them even further then before. Becomeing lame copycat version of existing systems begging and pleading for your eyeballs so they can sell advertising to you.
Problem is anyone with half a braincell normally hacks out the ads anyhow so they do not see them... Either with a 3rd party tool, or just a advertising block list.
All I can do at this is stand there shake my head and go there goes society yet again. Never an original concept to be found ANYWHERE anymore it seems.
True the XMPP based on XML is an improvement. but what would be a big deal is if there was 1 IM to rule them all. THAT would even be something I would pay for believe it or not. then every IM I have could be consolidated in 1 place forever... Brilliant. But just adding another to the long list... not enough to make a difference to me...
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the idea is good. Let's start first. Mohiuddin, Bangladesh, mohiuddin.unigroup@gmail.com
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As long as it allows XMPP clients, I'm down with it. I'd rather use Gtalk's XMPP, though, because I'll be more people use it.
Still, the largest is arguably AIM, and with AOL fooling around with XMPP, too, XMPP may soon become /the/ IM protocol. Oscar (AIM and ICQ), YIM, and MSN would become things of the past.
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It would probably be a better idea if they allowed other IM programs to do their work for them (pidgin, trillian, AIM, ICQ, MSN, YIM, etc..) as then I might actually use the feature.
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