Instant Messaging - Introduction

What is Instant Messaging?

Instant messaging (IM) is a way of communicating written messages over the Internet in nearly realtime. Unlike common email messages IM offers immediate communication - live and instantaneous. In addition a personal buddy list shows who of your friends is online and wants to chat (so-called online presence recognition and management feature). Apart from the on-to-one communication between two users group meetings and multi-user chats are possible, meaning that more than two surfers are chatting in realtime.

What is Jabber?

Jabber is an publicly documented instant messaging system (also see Jabber.org). In contrast to common email services there unfortunately haven't been established any standards yet (no accessible ones especially). So each service does its own thing while communicating between the differnt systems remains nearly impossible. Of course financial interests play a part in this matter, too. Jabber, however, is an open system where everyone can take part in. IM users are free to choose among a variety of Jabber compatible messenger services. Administrators may employ available software and install their own Jabber server. Programmers may develop new instant messengers for the publicly documented Jabber system. Moreover it is intended to provide gateways to messaging systems like ICQ, MSN, AIM and Yahoo. The objective of this project is to make possible free communication, independent of each user's mailing system, anywhere, anytime you want.

What is Syndicon?

Syndicon is a free of charge IM service based on Jabber. Our Syndicon Messenger offers anyone interested an account on our server (Syndicon.de) to send and retrieve messages and to communicate with users of other IM services freely via our gateways.

How can I become a Syndicon member?

It's just that simple: On our website you will find the Syndicon Messenger as a Download for free. After you've installed Syndicon Messenger you can setup your free email account (see Instructions). Your new account, which will look like this: yourname@syndicon.de, is a worldwide valid Syndicon Jabber address (JID). And of course you can use our server with any other Jabber messenger, too.