World of Ends describes the benefits of the internet and why it has been so successful. The authors, Doc Searls and David Weinberger, also go into detail about what government and businesses and people are doing that detract from the value of the internet.

In 8.c they talk about Instant Messaging (IM) and how it's lack of "success" is due to the propritary nature of the protocols involved in the different approaches. I only have one question, "It's not successful?"

I thought the whole purpose what to allow me to communicate with people that are on the network right now, or send them messages so that they get them the next time the login. Anything else is extra. Can I do that? Yes. Do I need a client for each one? No.

Using either a client solution such as Trillian I can use each of the different networks a the same time, and the interaction is the same as if I was only on one network....Shoot, I can even connect to IRC and use Trillian for that as well.

I could also use a server solution such as Jabber. Using a public Jabber server and a Jabber client, I can connect to any or all of the different messaging services out there that I am registered with. Are there issues, yes. I still have to register with each service, and I have to get a jabber id as well. After that I'm up and running, and I don't have any worries.

So, IM has warts, but I think it is a far cry from a failed venture. If Jabber gains more momentum, and captures more market share then I think there are all kinds of things that could be done with IM that haven't even been thought of.

Phil Windley pointed out an article titled, The Pentagons New Map. I found it very interesting reading, and I will certainally look at the news in a new light since reading it.