There are several advantages to the MUC protocol (Jabber is an IM
protocol, MUC is the conference protocol):
1) MUC supports additional features, including file transfer and
embedded presence notification (i.e. In Psi the online/away/idle/etc...
status of each participant is listed on the righthand pane)
2) MUC can ride on HTTP, so it's easier to use when behind a firewall
that blocks IRC.
3) The MUC conference can be "bridged" to the IRC, so users can
participate in both while choosing which protocol they prefer.
4) Most clients will provide "popup" notification when activity occurs
on a MUC, allowing the conferees to focus on other tasks when the
conference is idle.
5) While GAIM connects well to IRC, not everyone wants to use the GAIM
interface, this allows users more choices for how they want to connect.
Alan Dayley wrote:
>As you may have noted from my previous emails, I am trying out the jabber
>conference. So far I am not impressed nor disappointed.
>
>Why is the jabber conference better than the IRC channel?
>
>They seem to provide the same function and, running both channels at the same
>time in GAIM, I see no difference. Both are just as easy to connect to (Once
>my confusion about registering jabber was over.). Both provide a chat
>session.
>
>There must be a compelling reason besides being "new" to use jabber over IRC
>but I don't see it at the moment. Any thoughts?
>
>Alan
>
>
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