MSRP [Message Session Relay Protocol] draft in the IEFT will certianly change the way we build IM applications and will allow mass adoption of SIMPLE-based IM applications.

Now with MSRP we can make use of multimodal communications in SIMPLE. Up until recently SIMPLE has been quite limited in regards to heavy IM communications use due to the MESSAGE method limitation. Now with MSRP we see this problem solved and we get some new features like IM transfer, conferencing and others much easier implemented and we still maintain the open standard.

Jabber using XMPP [Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol] has clearly led the way in IM using open standards. With the advent of SIMPLE and MSRP relays, that could quickly change. Especailly with the big IM giants [Microsoft hosted this year’s SIMPLEit event] looking to SIMPLE and MSRP to lead the next evolution in IM+Voice+Video.

The next question is how long before we see it? Stay tuned..

Considering there are very few XCAP/SIMPLE servers out there [last time I checked there were NONE in production] Xten has decided to provide a free XCAP/SIMPLE server with basic functionality on Linux/BSD which will be made available at the time the eyeBeam v1.1 SDK is released in the 3rd week of December 2004.

Considering eyeBeam v1.1 will support SIMPLE/XCAP we needed to have something our customers could use that would support that technology. We do not plan on delivering this server as a supported commercial Xten product but instead it will eventually make it into open source.

Xten Video Softphone Gets IM, Presence
By Ellen Muraskin

Xten Networks Inc. has announced a new version of its Xten eyeBeam video-enabled softphone. Due in early December, eyeBeam 1.1 will incorporate presence and instant messaging along with IP voice and video.

The presence and IM features of eyeBeam 1.1 were demonstrated at the CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment show in San Francisco last week, using Vonage Holding Corp.’s voice-over-IP service, a PC, a headset and a 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) high-speed wireless network. Vonage, along with EarthLink Inc. and other VOIP providers from the cable operator, telco, and ISP markets, resells the softphone under its own brand with its own service. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Xten designs a different device image for each and also sells its software development kit.

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