Comparison of instant messaging protocols
Columns: Protocol | Creator | License | Transport Layer Security | Bulletins to all contacts | Batch file sharing
Gadu-Gadu | GG Network | Proprietary | Yes | No | Yes | IRC | Jarkko Oikarinen | Open standard | Yes, depending on individual server support | No | No | Windows Messenger service | Microsoft | Proprietary (Discontinued) | No | Yes | No | MSNP ( Windows Live Messenger , etc.) | Microsoft | Proprietary | No | No | Yes | ( Mumble ) | Thorvald Natvig | Open standard | Yes | No | Yes | OSCAR ( AIM , ICQ ) | AOL | Proprietary | Yes (Aim Pro, Aim Lite) | No | Yes | RVP ( Windows Messenger , etc.) | Microsoft | Proprietary (Discontinued) | No | No | No | SIP / SIMPLE | IETF | Open standard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Steam Friends | Valve Corporation | Proprietary | Proprietary | Yes | No | Skype | Skype | Proprietary | Proprietary | No | Yes | TOC2 | AOL | Proprietary (Discontinued) | No | No | Partial | XMPP / Jingle ( Google Talk ) | Jeremie Miller , standardized via IETF | Open standard | Yes | Yes | Yes | YMSG ( Yahoo! Messenger ) | Yahoo! | Proprietary | No | Yes | Yes | Zephyr Notification Service | MIT | Open standard | No | Yes | No