Windows Live Messenger opens to XMPP

Microsoft has announced that anyone will be able to offer a Messenger client with access via XMPP.

Last September, Microsoft announced that they would be adding support for the XMPP open instant messaging protocol (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol; previously known as Jabber) for their Windows Live API’s, making other instant messaging clients compatible and interoperable with Windows Live Messenger.

Microsoft has reconfirmed this engagement by detailing the currently compatible XMPP specifications in a blog posting.

Dare Obasanjo, Product Manager of the Live Connect Platform states that "This signifies that anyone can conceive innovative instant messaging clients – be they autonomous or integrated into devices – which includes access to 300 million active Messenger users".

This means that any instant messaging client who uses XMPP and supports OAuth 2.0 should be able to easily access Messenger users to see if they are online and communicate with them. Developers will no longer need to call on retro-engineering to work out the Messenger protocol.

Dare Obasanjo reminds us that XMPP is mostly used by the Facebook Chat and Google Talk instant messaging networks.