MSG is a Web 2.0 application that allows you to access basic instant messaging functionality within a standard web browser. This makes it ideal for use in environments where software can not be installed, or on networks where Internet access is restricted by firewalls and proxy servers, or where performing the installation is just cumbersome. MSG is open source, and is built upon the popular ‘Jabber/XMPP’ protocol used by Google Talk and many others. See the full user guide.
An optional tool called MSG Alert is available for the Windows platform (and eventually others). This can be used in conjunction with the web client to maintain the MSG connection when the web browser is closed, and also to alert you when new messages arrive. This is the most convenient way to use MSG over a long period.
Credits
| MSG client & server systems: | Chris Denham |
| Moodle integration: | Alex Little |
| BuddySpace Uncles: | Jiri Komzak, Martin Dzbor |
| Graphics and site: | Peter Devine, Harriett Cornish, Damian Dadswell |
| Project principal investigator: | Marc Eisenstadt |
This work is partly supported by the European Community under the Information Society Technologies (IST) programme of the 6th Framework Programme for RTD - project ELeGI, contract IST-002205. This software and its documentation do not represent the opinion of the European Community, and the European Community is not responsible for any use that might be made of the data and tools appearing herein.
We also gratefully acknowledge support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for enabling us to extend MSG to become part of the larger "Open Content Initiative" OpenLearn project at the Open University.