[chris_wot]

That is hopelessly naive, and not only that but it allows Microsoft to continue to lock in people to their own products.

Think about this: Microsoft spent a fair amount of resources integrating with gtalk, now they can't use it. The only way for them to gain access is to open up their own platforms. Once they do, then everyone is on a more level playing field.

The days of Microsoft shafting the competition through lock-in and anti-competitive behaviour is fast coming to an end. I'm not shedding any tears.

[Svip]

I am not shy about being naïve (I think I said so myself), and I completely understand why Google is doing what it is doing (or why Microsoft is), but that doesn't mean I agree or support what they are doing.

So rather than waiting for Google to become the 'bigger man' (or Microsoft for that matter), which will likely never happen, I will move onto other services, because - fortunately - I have a choice.

My argument being, that if someone is trying to stop me changing services, because I am unhappy about the fact that Google are dropping or federalising their XMPP services, then 'Microsoft is doing the same thing' isn't the argument that is going to send me back to Google.