I want to IM someone. Do I use Messenger? Sorry, Apple only. How about Allo? Android only. Hangouts? Works everywhere, but most people haven’t got it. Skype? Same, and many people who use to use it have uninstalled it. Text message? Talk about lowest common denominator: (maybe) no photos, … I want to video-chat. Even worse.

Why do tech companies constantly reinvent this stuff in incompatible ways? I just got a message from Slack (which I use because I have to, for work) saying their XMPP gateway will be taken down soon, because their system is better. Couldn’t they just make XMPP better? Couldn’t everyone make XMPP better, so we could all use the client of our choice and still talk to one another?

Imagine if AT&T had done this with phones. Or Philips with audio cassette tape. Or cars with gas tank fittings.