[tffgg]

It hasn't really been there:

- encryption wasn't really there (and still is experimental)

- decentralization does not exist to the degree that Matrix provides it

And Matrix is fundamentally different. It works somewhat similar to git compared to XMPP being more like IRC, which results in a completely different form of decentralization. E2EE is different as well - even if both are based on the Signal Protocol: Matrix encrypts for groups of people instead of single devices

I doubt Matrix would be where it is if they tried to bend XMPP

[Andrew_nenakhov]

Decentralization in XMPP exists to a much greater degree that in is in Matrix.

[Macha]

Practical decentralization, where you can talk to your friend that uses a different provider?

Not just using the same client for Facebook and your corporate chat instance?

[zaik]

> Practical decentralization, where you can talk to your friend that uses a different provider?

Yes. You can find some lists of servers participating in the federation here: https://xmpp.org/getting-started/

It's just that XMPP providers are not required to participate in the federation. Sadly, large instances like WhatsApp choose not to.

[Andrew_nenakhov]

Practical decentralisation, as in thousands of servers connected to each other in one federation, working for 20 years.

[zaik]

> encryption wasn't really there (and still is experimental)

Clients could encrypt messages using OpenPGP and the more recent OMEMO seems pretty reliable to me (Conversations, Gajim).