I've been quite a chore to be around today and the root cause of my anxiety is Google's recent announcement of their Google Talk service. Everyone in my geek circle of friends seems to be all lathered up in excitement over Google's decision to enter the mess that is the Instant Messaging world. Much of it being speculation about how Google intends to do to IM and VoIP what they did with webmail in April 2004 with their launch of Google Mail.
( It's a tempting vision, but I have my doubts )
Addendum 4:51p CDT:
Both Roland Dobbins and Peter Saint-Andre have informed me that I've quite understated the widespread use of IM in the commercial world, particularly within the financial sector. If anything I think that this usage of private Jabber server only serves to underscore the underlying importance for Google to properly open up their servers for s2s communications. That the current Jabber network is even more entrenched than I'd thought only makes my main point more germane.
I've also been told that I sadly neglected to mention UUCP when discussing the state of email past.
for!that!ommission!i!am!truly!sorry.Addendum 29-Aug:
Where I've focused on the impact to users, Drunken Batman has tossed in his thoughts on what the other IM providers think of Google's release. As always, his rumor network is serving him well.
Update 31-Aug:
Google seems to have capitulated (or at least clarified their position). Gary Burd posted to the Jabber developers list clearly stating that Google now intends to support "open server-to-server federation". He also mentions that they've updated the developer page, which they have. It no longer refers only to "any service provider" and now states a goal of "open server-to-server federation." Hooray!
Original text: "We look forward to federating with any service provider who shares our belief in enabling user choice and open communications. We do believe, however, that it is important to balance openness with ensuring that we maintain a safe and reliable service that protects user privacy and blocks spam and other abuses."
New text: "We plan to support open server-to-server federation. We do believe, however, that it is important to have the safeguards in place to ensure
that we maintain a safe and reliable service that protects user privacy and blocks spam and other abuses."