The pressure on MSN will be harder. In that sense it is also news for you as an MSN user. For example, if AOL actually federates AIM and ICQ by becoming part of the XMPP server2server network, then these things might happen: * Gadu-Gadu and Tlen may also adopt XMPP. XMPP already has a considerable stake in Poland. Besides that, ICQ is popular in Poland's neighbour countries and in particular Russia and Germany. Hence, it would be very useful for the Polish business world to use XMPP. If Gadu-Gadu does not switch, these companies will deploy their own server or other services competing with Gadu-Gadu will appear. In the long term Gadu-Gadu and Tlen will be pushed out of the market if they neglect XMPP federation. * In the US, XMPP will become #1. Therefor, the deal between Yahoo and MSN may end; Yahoo may also want to join XMPP. * As the US is China's #1 "customer, QQ the Chinese IM service may also want to federate with XMPP. * When Jingle is more mature in the XMPP community, eBay will see an opportunity in federating Skype with XMPP/Jingle: 3 big countries (US, Germany and Russia) use XMPP. Neglecting this huge potential customers will result in less money for eBay. * Microsoft will probably speed up with SIP/SIMPLE soon. In the countries where they have a huge stake today they will defend their market share more fiercely. * More mobile phone operators will offer XMPP serices. * More ISPs will offer XMPP services.