Instant Messaging - Jabber

Secure instant messaging services are available to the UMS community via "Jabber," an open-source standards-based instant-messaging protocol.  (http://www.jabber.org). 

To use the UMS Jabber service, you must first acquire a Jabber-capable instant messaging client.  There are many free clients available.  Our server requires SSL/TLS for all connections and hence the client must support encryption.  We've had good experience with the open-source messaging client "Pidgin" - http://pidgin.sourceforge.net 

To use the server: 

1. Point your Jabber client at   "jabber.maine.edu"  
2. Use your UMS enterprise credentials to authenticate (same id as @maine.edu email, Peoplesoft, etc.)

Notes:

• Some jabber-clients may require you to "Register" your account (by clicking on a "Register" button) before logging in the first time. The UMS Jabber server does NOT require this.
• The UMS Jabber server does NOT provide gateways to other IM systems; e.g., MSN, Yahoo, AIM.  However, the Pidgin client allows simultaneous connections to multiple IM systems.
• The UMS Jabber service is intended for use by the UMS community.  Individual UMS campuses and/or departments may have rules regarding the use of Instant Messaging technology.  It is your responsibility to proceed in accordance with local policies.