RFC 2779 (rfc2779) - Page 1 of 26

Instant Messaging / Presence Protocol Requirements

Network Working Group                                            M. Day
Request for Comments: 2779                                        Lotus
Category: Informational                                     S. Aggarwal
                                                              Microsoft
                                                                G. Mohr
                                                              Activerse
                                                             J. Vincent
                                                          Into Networks
                                                          February 2000


           Instant Messaging / Presence Protocol Requirements

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2000).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   Presence and Instant Messaging have recently emerged as a new medium
   of communications over the Internet.  Presence is a means for
   finding, retrieving, and subscribing to changes in the presence
   information (e.g. "online" or "offline") of other users. Instant
   messaging is a means for sending small, simple messages that are
   delivered immediately to online users.

   Applications of presence and instant messaging currently use
   independent, non-standard and non-interoperable protocols developed
   by various vendors.  The goal of the Instant Messaging and Presence
   Protocol (IMPP) Working Group is to define a standard protocol so
   that independently developed applications of instant messaging and/or
   presence can interoperate across the Internet. This document defines
   a minimal set of requirements that IMPP must meet.












Day, et al.                  Informational