As technology becomes main agent for human interaction
nowadays, more and more people connecting to each other indirectly, could via
voice, text and video. The way is
texting via instant messaging (IM).
When SMS
and voice communication is so yesterday,
im offer more attractive and add value to the communication. The killer features
is group messaging and ability to attach rich media file into the chat. Other
high demanded feature such as share location, virtual activity also available
depend on protocol and device.
There are
so many IM protocol currently available. From the legendaries ICQ, IRC from the
first dot-com booming during new millennia. Then internet giant enters the competition for their users such as Yahoo with Y!msgr, Google with Gtalk, Microsoft/Hotmail
with Live (recently acquired Skype), Facebook Chat, AOL and many more that has
no significant user. The most recent is smartphone/service vendor to push their
own protocol. There are RIM with Blackberry Messenger, Nokia with Ovi chat, Whatsapp, some local brand like Nexian
Messenger and Esia Messenger.
Remember old
day where we can only send SMS within same operator/network, operator never
thought the SMS could be one of their revenue machine. But when SMS
inter-operator is available, instantly SMS become ultimate revenue generator. Imagine internet with no inter-networking
capability, telephone with no inter-operator switching, email can only send to same domain user, closed
group IM has no future, unless it can communicate thru all protocols/provider.
So IM service
provider should start collaborate the chatting inter-operates across protocol. Some
already started with limited partners, like Ovi can talk to Gtalk, Y!msgr to MSN
(maybe with Skype too?), but still not as one global inter-protocol IM. Only by
all-connected protocol, IM will be considered important way to socialize at
least for years to come. No more one ID for every protocol if we want to chat
with people in the group.
