Not much media attention has been given to Google’s hire of GAIM software lead, Sean Egan,
<blockquote><p>For now, he says he’s focusing on a protocol (a special set of rules that end points in a telecommunication connection use when they communicate) that makes it possible for GAIM and its competitors, such as Trillian or Psi, to more easily allow for Internet-based phone calls, which most instant messaging software makes possible.</p>
<p>But a much larger issue, namely interoperability, looms for Egan and the entire instant messaging industry.</p></blockquote>
<p>GAIM is the leading chat client on Windows and Linux and the basis for Adium on Mac OS X, which I’m using to connect to my Jabber account on Google Talk (flowerpt@gmail.com). Now, Google Talk already does voice, so what protocol exactly is Sean working on? Sean is very experienced with interoperability whether the networks want him to or not - but maybe Google just noticed that most of its Google Talk users weren’t using the Google Talk client and decided they better get this guy on <i>their</i> side.