Integrating the Web, Part I: Instant Messaging

Since the beginning of the Web, there’s repeatedly emerged a shiny, exciting and new break-through product or website, and before you know, everyone is using it. Almost as quickly there emerges competing products to grab a slice of the new platform.

In the Instant Messaging business, ICQ was the first and copycats soon emerged. Now there’s a slew of networks using their own protocols, some of them being proprietary, some of them not. The problem is the variety of protocols and networks. Since your friends usually are not at the same network, it requires you to either

a) use many different instant messengers

b) search for a solution that has them all combined

Integrating all of these networks in a one solution is not easy. And even if you develop a product that can boast having them all, making the product as usable as your favourite propritary client is even more difficult. My favourite IM client is Skype, and I must say it really is polished and user friendly client that does everything you need. Sadly, Skype is very closed protocol and so far I’ve only encountered few clients that can access it’s network.

Some solutions for the IM mess

• Fring is a mobile IM client, that can do most of the protocols, like MSN, AIM, ICQ, Yahoo,  Twitter and even Skype! Sadly, it’s ONLY mobile client. I’m really looking forward for them releasing a desktop version.
• Meebo is something really unique. It’s a website, that uses the advanced Web 2.0 techniques to bring the clients into your browser! Meebo also does MSN, ICQ and many others. Sadly, no Skype.

I’ve been exploring Meebo for a while now, and I really like the fact that it’s browser based. Wow, I never thought about that being possible with Javascript, Ajax and some server side magic. In a way, Meebo is a great example of Web 2.0 spirit. It utilizes the browser as an application platform, and does it with style and polished user experience. What’s even better, they are developer friendly and are offering the tools for people who wish to extend their platform. I hope they keep up the good job working towards the holy grail of integration.