Slashdot Mirror
Russian Google Competitor Embraces Open Source Messaging
rm writes "Internet search and mail provider Yandex, which many view to be Google's main competitor in Russia, has recently added an instant messaging capability to its mail notifier application Ya.Online. As it turns out, the IM service is based on the open XMPP protocol, with connectivity to all other public Jabber servers available from day one. MacOS X and GNU/Linux versions of the app were also released (complete with sources under the GPL) and are determined to be based on the Psi IM client. Yandex looks to be a firm believer in open-source, also running a mirror site for FOSS and actively promoting its branded version of Firefox. Here's hoping that its affair with XMPP will help eliminate ICQ's enormous foothold in Russia."
wow, that's backwards
Yeah cause the open source world *really* needs one more incomplete IM client. For those tired of Pidgin's clunky UI, space-hogging design, and 1980s-era theme on Windows, or of Kopete's bugginess, or Miranda's bizarre minimalist design, or aMSN's incompleteness (can that thing render with my GTK theme on Linux yet?), you can now have the flat white frame-that-escaped-your-web browser look of google chat, and have it talk only one protocol too. Please, please, stop making your own IM clients, make Pidgin somewhat sensible (hint: take a look at Adium; it's open-source), and let us chat in peace. Until then, gtalk-in-the-browser and MSN Messenger are by far the most usable IM clients, and guess what, they're what 90% of people are using.