Jabber and iChat

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Level 2

425 points

Jabber and iChat

Hi All

A question re iChat and Jabber accounts. I assume that when one has a conversation between two Jabber accounts using the iChat interface that it is using the Jabber protocol (XMPP) and not the AIM protocol. Is my understanding correct? If am I correct, has anyone noticed whether the Jabber protocol is more successful at completing calls (audio or video) between Macs and Windows PCs? Is Gmail Jabber still intra-Gmail only?

Cheers

Steve

Posted on Oct 16, 2005 5:03 AM

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Answer 1

Steve Kale Author

Level 2

425 points

Oct 16, 2005 5:39 AM in response to Steve Kale

Sorry, one additional question. From Wikipedia under Jabber:

"Connecting to other protocols

A unique feature of the Jabber system is that of transports, also known as gateways, which allow users to access networks using other protocols - such as AIM and ICQ (using OSCAR), MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger (using the .NET Messenger Service), Yahoo! Messenger, SMS or E-mail. Unlike multi-protocol clients like Trillian or Gaim, Jabber provides this access at the server level by communicating via special gateway services running on a remote computer. Any Jabber user can 'register' with one of these gateways by providing the information needed to log on to that network, and can then communicate with users of that network as though they were Jabber users. This means that any client which fully supports the Jabber protocol can be used to access any network to which a gateway exists, without the need for any extra code in the client."

Does this mean that I can connect with MSN and Yahoo chat users via my Jabber window in iChat? How do I go about setting this up?

Cheers

Steve

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Answer 2

Oct 16, 2005 1:45 PM in response to Steve Kale

Hi Steve,

I have used iChat and a Jabber account to Video chat to another iChat Jabber account user.

I don't think it works to a PC but I have not tested this.
Gil Taylor or SillyDog may have this answer.

Yes, at this time the Google talk is only GoogleTalk to GoogleTalk for anything other than Text chats.

Ralph

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Answer 3

Oct 16, 2005 1:47 PM in response to Steve Kale

Hi Again,

See the two links at the top of this page for setting up Jabber with Transports http://www.ralphjohnsuk.dsl.pipex.com/page5.html

The OZ one first then the All Forces one.

Ralph

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Answer 4

Steve Kale Author

Level 2

425 points

Oct 17, 2005 6:09 AM in response to Steve Kale

Ok. So if I only have a Google Talk Jabber account I can't open gateways anyway. Understood - it's on its way. And we're not sure about Mac to PC over Jabber. iChat still controls the Jabber XMPP call leading to reduced quality than potentially possible.

BTW I think iChat gets itself in a real mess if you flick between using AIM video and Jabber video. As I noted in another thread I had a Mac-Mac AIM call with a friend and then we tried Jabber each using the iChat interface. The Jabber call seemed about the same quality - again with the iChat interface making poor use of bandwidth. When we tried to go back to an AIM video call we could not complete initially because I "failed to respond" and then, after we each deactivated the Jabber accounts, the AIM conversation simply got stuck at "starting".

So far I see the following with iChat:

1. Mac to Mac: poor use of available bandwidth leading to sub quality calls vs what could be achieved if available bandwidth were utilised.
2. Poor integration of Jabber. Simply not well thought out (two windows instead of one etc) and badly executed (iChat gets tied in knots).
3. Almost impossible Mac to PC audio/video communication.

Are you listening yet Apple?

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Answer 5

Oct 17, 2005 3:01 PM in response to Steve Kale

Hello Steve,

I have been unable to test using video through jabber with a PC. i have tested audio with mac through jabber and it works, although not as good as the AIM. i found the audio quality lower, but that may have been the jabber server.

I am still looking for people to test jabber video with on the PC side. i have a budy using MSN and i offered to buy him a Logic cam to test it with. the next step was to see if we can trouble shoot the mac/pc issue with ichat and AIM. he said no thanks. he wasn't interested in helping me trouble shoot it.

he did ask if i'd just buy him a mac instead. :{)

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Answer 6

Steve Kale Author

Level 2

425 points

Oct 17, 2005 5:25 PM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

Not surprised. Most PC users will test for about 20mins and then say "I'm outa here - go by a decent (Windows) PC!!"

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Answer 7

Oct 19, 2005 6:22 PM in response to Gilbert N. Taylor

Hi Gilbert,

I've set up an iChat server at work and I'm wondering what Jabber clients on the PC side you'd recommend. I've had a really hard time finding ones with video Chat. Trillian Pro is about the only thing I've come up with.

Have you heard of others?

Thanks

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Answer 8

Oct 20, 2005 10:08 AM in response to Steve Pandolfo

so far, i have been unable to test with a jabber clinent to a PC using video.

I have tested PC through AIM using iChat and video with success.

from what i have read, Trillian is pretty good and if it working for you than you may want to keep it for now. macs to mac use iChat fine. it is the PC side that is creating the most headaches that i can see. Other posters having issues with mac/pc video switched to a third party software and have reported sucess.

I am kind of cheap. apple gave it to me with Kitty (my code for any cat named mac OS)(i can't keep them straight) so i perfer to use it. also old school, if it is native, less likely to have a problem with the OS and it.

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