XMPP

XMPP (also known as Jabber) is the Internet Standard for instant messaging.

• Supports modern chat features in a standardized and interoperable way (unlike IRC)
  • Multi-device support, offline messages, multi-line messages, message styling, end-to-end encryption, message correction, message deletion, read markers and receipts, typing notifications...
  • Bookmark and contact synchronization, avatars, file transfer, image previews, stickers, message reactions, audio and video calls...
• Federated, rather than centralized (unlike Telegram, Discord, Signal, Slack, ...)
• Diverse ecosystem of FOSS clients and servers (unlike Discord, Slack, ...)
• Easy and lightweight to self-host (unlike Matrix)
• Immune to enshittification - governed by a privacy-conscious community (the XSF, analogous to the OSMF) rather than a company
• Bridges to other chat protocols, using Biboumi for IRC, Bifrost for Matrix, and Slidge for Discord, Facebook Messenger, Matrix, Mattermost, Signal, Skype, Steam Chat, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

Getting started

Make an account on a server, install a client, and login.

Public server recommendations may be found at https://providers.xmpp.net/ or https://compliance.conversations.im/old/

For clients, we recommend

1. Monocles Chat for modern Android devices
2. Yaxim for old/low-end Android devices
3. Monal or Siskin for iOS
4. Gajim on the desktop
5. Converse.JS or Movim for the web

More clients can be found at https://xmpp.org/software/

OpenStreetMap rooms on XMPP

Chat	Country	Region	Remarks
openstreetmap@conference.macaw.me	Worldwide
openstreetmap-de@rooms.dismail.de			German-language room
openstreetmap@salas.suchat.org			Spanish-language room
osm-bb@rooms.dismail.de	Germany	Berlin Brandenburg
osm-hh@conference.jabber.de	Germany	Nord-Deutschland Hamburg
osm-in@conference.a3.pm	India
osm-delhi@conference.jabbers.one	India	Delhi
osmbengal@conference.conversations.im	India	West Bengal

You can use https://search.jabber.network/ to find more rooms.