Para ler esta explicação em português, clique aqui.

The jabber.3gnt.org XMPP/Jabber server replaced the jabber.projecto-oasis.cx server, the first public Jabber server in Portugal.

About 7 years ago, when it was created, users had only 2 ways to communicate using instant messaging:

• By using closed proprietary protocols, like MSN, ICQ, Yahoo or AIM, which prevented them to exchange instant messages between different networks, (they had to use multi-protocol clients, or even multiple clients), and many times work colleagues had to send unencrypted confidential messages all around the globe, just to reach the person on the other side of the desk);
  
• By using the open IRC protocol, which was developed mainly for conference room conversations, and not exactly to show "presence" information, (available, busy, away, etc...).

This was why 3GNTW decided to make a XMPP/Jabber server freely available to the public in general, and join it to other public Jabber/XMPP servers all around the world, allowing message exchange between them.

The jabber.3gnt.org server was also configured to allow "transports" to proprietary networks, like MSN, ICQ, Yahoo and AIM, and also the IRC network, which permitted all users to communicate with users "on the other side of the fence", using just one of the many Jabber clients available.

During all these years the inicial goals were a complete success, and the server was regularly used by thousands of users from many countries, and a simple Google search by "jabber.projecto-oasis.cx", "jabber.3gnt.org" or "msn.3gnt.org" shows it.

Also during all these years, 3GNTW assumed the costs with the purchase, professional datacenter housing and regular maintenance  of the jabber.3gnt.org server, considering them:

• A "thanks" to the Open Source community for the development of brilliant software, like ejabberd, the "heart" of the jabber.3gnt.org server, or Tkabber and Psi, which we consider to be the best Jabber clients available;
  
• An investment in publicity, since we though jabber.3gnt.org could bring us commercial opportunities, so we could deploy enterprise ready XMPP/Jabber servers throughout portuguese companies. This investment was not profitable, since all the (many) XMPP/Jabber deployments we made were a consequence of our sales efforts, and not leads which started through the jabber.3gnt.org public server.

Meanwhile, reality changed: some instant messaging alternatives are still popular all around, (MSN), others are used only on some countries, (ICQ, Yahoo and AIM), and some almost not used anymore (IRC).

New free alternatives for instant messaging appeared, with new capacities, including VoIP and videoconferencing:

• Skype, even based on a closed, proprietary protocol, is used by millions of users all over the world, because of the way how it introduced easy IP telephony, (nowadays usually just called VoIP);
  
• Google Talk, also based on the XMPP protocol, (like the jabber.3gnt.org server), which is also capable of exchanging messages with all other public Jabber/XMPP servers.

We don't believe anymore it makes sense to support a FREE public XMPP/Jabber server costs, because:

• If users want to use VoIP and videoconferencing, they can just use MSN, Skype or Google Talk. They are backed up by companies with deeper pockets than ours, which make money indirectly, (selling software, telephone calls and numbers, or advertising);
  
• If users still believe in using an open protocol, like XMPP, they can use Google Talk, or any other public Jabber/XMPP server;
  
• If users simply want something free, they can use any alternative mentioned above.

Thus, after May, 1st, 2009, the jabber.3gnt.org will be deactivated. All users should promptly migrate to any other public Jabber/XMPP server, or to any commercial service referred above.

3GNTW will continue to deploy enterprise ready XMPP/Jabber servers, with all services currently provided by the jabber.3gnt.org, and many, many more, such as:

• LDAP / Active Directory authentication of users;
  
• Archive of all received and sent messages;
  
• Access control lists of "who", "when" and "how" can exchange messages, and "to what recipients";
  
• Encrypted messages, so you can know your messages are confidential, and were not tampered with;
  
• Integration with live support tools, on the company websites.

On the other hand, and for non-corporate users, to whom an "indoor" XMPP/Jabber server is not needed, 3GNTW provides unified communications, from it's professional datacenters:

• Client registers one or more domains;
  
• Client purchases one or more portuguese or foreign DID's (telephone numbers);
  
• Client is provided with a pack of Internet Services pointed to the domain(s), including hosting space for the website(s), email with antivirus and antiSPAM inspection, (with "pushmail" support, so the client can sync email, contacts, calendar, tasks and notes with mobile devices), instant messaging, VoIP and videoconferencing, fax and SMS;
  
• Client can be contacted by email, VoIP and instant messaging through the address client@domain.com;
  
• Client can be contacted by conventional landline or mobile phone, fax and SMS through the purchased DID's (numbers). 

To all users who participated in his adventure: thanks!