AOL launches XMPP aka Jabber

Proprietary protocols are the past. Today, Opensource technology conquers the world! AOL / ICQ launched a test server using XMPP - an open technology. This means that soon you will be able to communicate with your ICQ / AIM contacts via Jabber. Google has already done this. Who is next? MSN!

It seems that AOL makes its ICQ and AIM services compatible with XMPP: xmpp.oscar.ail.com. PS: it is still buggy and works (as stated) with Exodus and Coccinella. This works on almost all Jabber clients. But this is only an assumption, as the server is overloaded.

Today ( theifish: 1/17/2008 ) there was a discussion on the Jdev MUC room (http://logs.jabber.org/jdev@conference.jabber.org/2008-01-17.html# 12:06:24) about this. It seems that Jabber will be exactly the solution that will lead the future messaging systems.

You can try to log in to ICQ with the name icqnumber@aol.com on the server xmpp.oscal.aol.com, port 5222. TLS is required.
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See what happens in the coming months with Jabber.

UPDATE: It looks like AIM works too!
UPDATE2: Here is the instruction how to set up the Jabber client
UPDATE3: I just received a picture from jjkobra. Works with Gajim!
UPDATE4: It looks like Psi works too!
UPDATE5: Comment from AOL

Push:

I tried to connect using Pidgin and Psi - to no avail. The telnet on the adm xmpp.oscal.aol.comre222 also gives nothing. Although the trend is very good.