The idea is that for today you will try to stop using proprietary communication protocols and document formats. This is to encourage better communication, discussion and help people choose the software they want to use without being locked into and forced to use a particular product.
I don't think at this time I could stop completely having to use proprietary office formats like Microsoft Office. But I will try and make a small step towards the Open Discussion Day goal. Maybe that will be my goal next year.
From this day on I will not use MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ or Yahoo! Messenger. To contact me you will need to use my Jabber address, which is conveniently, ciaran{[dot]}mooney{[at]}gmail{[dott]}com.
The MSN/AOL/Yahoo! instant messenger platforms are proprietary and each company prevents their customers from communicating with their friends and family on another platform. Imagine not being able to email your friend, bob@hotmail.com because your email was dan@yahoo.com?
There is an alternative, called Jabber. There are many clients that support Jabber on Windows XP (Pidgin or Pandion ), Mac (iChat or Adium) and Linux. Jabber is an open protocol for instant message communication so anyone is allowed to write an application to chat with anyone using a Jabber account, no restrictions. Anyone with a Jabber account is able to chat with anyone else using the Jabber protocol, even if they are signed up to different providers. bob@jabber.com can now talk with dan@gabbler.org!
The easiest way to get a Jabber account is to sign up to Google Mail. The little chat applet in their webmail uses Jabber, or you can use gTalk. If you don't want to use Google you can choose from many of the other providers. Remember it doesn't matter which one you use, you will still be able to talk to me at ciaran{[dot]}mooney{[at]}gmail{[dott]}com.
If you have any questions. please email me or comment on the blog and I'll do my best to answer them.
[ add comment ] | permalink | related link
Calendar
