This software is a Jabber client that operates within the Emacs platform, allowing users to communicate with contacts on the Jabber network through a comfortable interface on their Emacs screen.
Jabber is an open instant messaging (IM) protocol, also known as XMPP, and is described in RFCs 3920-3923 and a series of XEPs (XMPP Extension Proposals). Unlike legacy IM systems such as ICQ or MSN Messenger, Jabber is open source and published for anyone to implement. Consequently, it is not surprising that a Jabber client exists for Emacs, running alongside a list of other Jabber clients available for non-Emacs users.
Jabber is a decentralized messaging system, much like email. Jabber identifiers (JIDs) take the form of username@server, in a format similar to an email address. Anyone whose Jabber server is open to internet connections can communicate with any other user. Compared to legacy IM systems that use closed communication systems, this provides an excellent alternative. For those with Gmail accounts, it is worth noting that Google Talk is an XMPP service, with a JID ending in @gmail.com.
In Jabber, you manage your contacts from a roster, which lists your contacts, indicating which ones are currently online. This allows easy management of conversations with multiple individuals. You can also send messages to offline contacts, which get stored on the server for later delivery. Jabber also supports IRC-style chat rooms, which are a great way to communicate with large groups of people.
Version 0.7.1 / 0.7.92 Beta: N/A