Interroperability has become a common thing in the world today. Mobile phone networks interroperate, so do email networks. However, not all things are interroperable on the internet. One that we know of is Instant Messanging (IM). The Lack of interoperability between instant messaging networks is a business decision by legacy IM networks. Software developers can make IM protocols talk to each other, but IM interoperability is not about software protocols. There is no valid reason why a user must register an account on a foreign network and change their instant messenger in order to chat with users on that network. Thus, there’s Snimmer.
Snimmer (Single Network Instant Messaging Mediation and Relay) is a web2.0 Ajax-based instant messenger (IM) that sends instant messages between different non-interoperable IM networks so that you can, for instance, use your Yahoo Messenger to chat with AOL or GoogleTalk users and vice versa. Unlike other web-based internet messengers, Snimmer does not rely on its own messanging protocols. It does it by using relay accounts. Relay accounts are used for 2 reasons:
- to achieve instant messenger interoperability (ie. let you chat on any network, using any instant messenger)
- to maintain complete privacy and anonymity between instant messaging parties
Snimmer is designed to connect strangers on websites. Conventional IM on the other hand, is designed exclusively to connect trusted contacts. Because Snimmer does not require you to provide your private instant messaging password (AOL, Yahoo!, Hotmail or Gmail), it does not log into your IM account. That means that it your online presence is not transmitted to your contacts (your “buddy list”) and likewise your buddy list is not accessible to you. If your object is to chat with others using Web IM without entrusting your private IM password to a third party Web IM service, then Snimmer is for you. Snimmer will connect you quickly and privately, accross all networks and will let you chat via Web IM and freely browse the web at the same time. If, on the other hand, you wish to see your buddy list online (just like you do with a regular instant messenger), then Snimmer, by its design, will not access your private IM account information.
WorldTechLogic has posted several AJAX-web-based internet messaging services before, such as: Geese, RadiusIM, Lingr, Zoho Chat, AliTalk, KoolIM, AjaxIM, E-Buddy or Imeem. Except for E-Buddy, albeit having to type in your password for each IM network, none have the IM interroperability of Snimmer. Overall, Snimmer is a great tool to chat with your IM buddies from different networks without having to type in your respective IM password. It can also be integrated to your website. Although the web design and GUI (too “plain and simplistic”) needs much to work on, Snimmer does offer something new to the respective niche service industry.
Try out Snimmer and see if you like it!
