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Sign upWhy I'm leaving Google Hangouts
As of February 16th, Google is shutting down Google Talk and requiring that all users switch to Hangouts.
This is the latest in a series of sad retreats from open Internet protocols on Google's part. Google Talk used to support XMPP, a protocol for Internet chat that has the following great features:
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XMPP is an open protocol. Anyone who wants to can write a client or a server for XMPP. This means that it is supported on just about every device and operating system in the world, from my text editor (Emacs) to the latest iPhones. It also means that anyone can run an XMPP server, and there are many throughout the world.
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XMPP supports federation. This means that you're not locked into a particular provider. My XMPP provider is Fastmail, but that doesn't mean I'm limited to talking only to Fastmail customers, because XMPP allows servers to interconnect and let anyone chat with anyone else.
First, Google removed federation from Google Talk. This meant that you had to create a Google account and log onto a Google server to talk with Google users. It also meant that Google users couldn't chat with users on other servers.
Now, they're dropping XMPP altogether with the move to Hangouts. As of February 16th if you want to chat with a Google user you have to create a Google account, use a Google server, and use their software. Google users will be locked entirely into their system, unable to chat with anyone else.
Google used to be a force for good in this area, advocating and using open protocols like XMPP to support the Internet. Now that they have the market share to do so, they're abandoning open protocols in order to lock their users (that is, their product) into their proprietary silo.
So, as of the 16th, I won't be available on Google Hangouts for chat. I will however be available for chat on XMPP; look for me by my email address.
If you aren't already on XMPP, you can get started at https://xmpp.net/directory.php. It's pretty straightforward, and I'm always happy to help people get set up.
I've updated the getting started link to https://xmpp.net/directory.php after feedback from Lloyd Watkin and intosi.