Conversations (Jabber / XMPP)

Conversations (Jabber / XMPP): A Secure Messaging Client for Android

What is Conversations (Jabber / XMPP)?

Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is a free and open-source instant messaging client designed for the Android operating system. Its core purpose is to provide a secure, reliable, and user-friendly platform for communication using the decentralized Jabber and XMPP protocols. Unlike centralized services, Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) connects to a federated network of servers, putting a strong emphasis on user privacy and data ownership. Conversations is built to be battery-efficient and adheres to modern Android design principles, offering a clean and intuitive experience.

Key Features of Conversations (Jabber / XMPP)

The feature set of Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is extensive, focusing on both functionality and security:

End-to-End Encryption: Messages are encrypted by default using the OMEMO standard, with optional OpenPGP support for enhanced privacy.

Rich Media Sharing: Users can seamlessly send and receive images, files, and voice messages within their chats.

Encrypted Calls: Conversations supports secure audio and video calls using DTLS-SRTP encryption.

Group Chats: It includes robust support for both private group chats and public conferences, complete with moderation tools for administrators.

Message Status Indicators: See when your messages have been delivered and read by recipients.

Synchronization: Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) can synchronize message history with compatible desktop clients like Gajim and Dino.

Location Sharing: Quickly share your location with contacts directly from Conversations interface.

Multiple Accounts: Manage several XMPP accounts from a single, unified inbox.

Minimal Permissions: Conversationslication is designed to request as few device permissions as possible, aligning with its privacy-first ethos.

Why Choose Conversations (Jabber / XMPP)?

The primary advantage of Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is its commitment to an open ecosystem. It does not rely on proprietary platforms like Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), ensuring your communication is not tied to a specific tech giant. The decentralized nature of the XMPP network means you are not locked into a single service provider. Furthermore, Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is renowned for its exceptional battery performance and its clean, Material Design-based interface that feels native to Android.

How to Download Conversations (Jabber / XMPP)

The official version of Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is available for download on the Google Play Store. It is also distributed as a paid application on F-Droid, a popular repository for free and open-source software. Users should always download Conversations from these official sources to ensure they receive a secure, unmodified version. It is important to note that some advanced features within Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) require support from the XMPP server to which you are connecting.

Overview of the Latest Version’s New Features

The development of Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is ongoing, with updates frequently introducing optimizations, bug fixes, and support for new XMPP Extension Protocols (XEPs). These updates ensure Conversations remains compatible with the evolving standards of the decentralized network and continues to improve its security and user experience.

Tips for Using Conversations (Jabber / XMPP)

For the best experience with Conversations (Jabber / XMPP), consider choosing an XMPP service provider that actively supports modern extensions like OMEMO for encryption and file sharing. You can check your server's capabilities directly within Conversations by navigating to your account details. Utilizing the unified inbox feature is an efficient way to manage multiple conversations across different accounts without switching contexts.

User Review

Overall, user feedback for Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is highly positive. It is consistently praised as one of the best, if not the best, XMPP clients available on Android. Users frequently highlight its clean interface, strong default security settings, and reliability. Common points of discussion in the community revolve around the need to find a well-supported server to unlock Conversations's full potential, which is seen as a minor hurdle for the significant privacy benefits it offers. The development of Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) is widely respected within the open-source community.