Companies trying to silo users into their own (proprietary) platforms is nothing new and has been going on since at least the old days of AOL Instant Messenger.
All the way back then, some smart people realized the solution was not yet another platform but an open and standardized protocol (like email, or the www itself). The open instant messaging protocol they developed was initially called Jabber, is now known as XMPP, and is an IETF standard.
Therefore there are many F/LOSS implementations (servers as well as clients) on pretty much any platform you can imagine.
Remember: protocols, not platforms!
However, as someone who has been running their own XMPP server (Prosody) for years, I can tell you that the technology is not the problem. Your average muppet will go wherever their friends are, and they care nothing about de-centralizaion, F/LOSS nor any of the other things we care about. It took me literally years of arm twisting just to get my own extended family onto my server. But maybe you have better luck.
There is a business case for self-hosted, private communications. Less liability, etc. Funny enough, one company I work for, I am aware they have set up their own XMPP server strictly for private usage (it's not federated). Of course, you can do whatever you like, being that it's F/LOSS. Maybe you can get somewhere with that approach.
All the way back then, some smart people realized the solution was not yet another platform but an open and standardized protocol (like email, or the www itself). The open instant messaging protocol they developed was initially called Jabber, is now known as XMPP, and is an IETF standard.
Therefore there are many F/LOSS implementations (servers as well as clients) on pretty much any platform you can imagine.
Remember: protocols, not platforms!
However, as someone who has been running their own XMPP server (Prosody) for years, I can tell you that the technology is not the problem. Your average muppet will go wherever their friends are, and they care nothing about de-centralizaion, F/LOSS nor any of the other things we care about. It took me literally years of arm twisting just to get my own extended family onto my server. But maybe you have better luck.
There is a business case for self-hosted, private communications. Less liability, etc. Funny enough, one company I work for, I am aware they have set up their own XMPP server strictly for private usage (it's not federated). Of course, you can do whatever you like, being that it's F/LOSS. Maybe you can get somewhere with that approach.
Cheers,
TRS-80
What is Free Software and why is it so important for society?
Protocols, not Platforms
For the most Linux-y experience on your Linux phone, try SXMO!
I am (nominally) the Armbian Maintainer for PineBook Pro (although severely lacking in time these days).
TRS-80
What is Free Software and why is it so important for society?
Protocols, not Platforms
For the most Linux-y experience on your Linux phone, try SXMO!
I am (nominally) the Armbian Maintainer for PineBook Pro (although severely lacking in time these days).
