Connecting to third-party instant messaging communities

Add third-party instant messaging communities such as Microsoft™ Office Communications Server and XMPP communities, AOL® clearinghouse, and AOL Instant Messenger™ to Sametime® Gateway Server.

About this task

Beginning with V9.0.1, Sametime Gateway has changed the way it connects to third-party communities.

Microsoft: Sametime Gateway requires a connection to a NextPlane UC Exchange community for providing access to Microsoft XMPP communities.

AOL: When you set up a connection with AOL you have the option of connecting with AOL users only, or connecting with the AOL clearinghouse community that includes AOL, ICQ, iChat, and other users from AOL Enterprise Federation Partner communities, including external Sametime communities. You should not configure both communities, as users served by the AOL clearinghouse are a superset of users served by the AOL community. If you set up AOL only, and later decide to connect with the AOL clearinghouse community, delete the AOL community first before adding the AOL clearinghouse community to Sametime Gateway.

Note: Sametime client users must use the Sametime client version 7.5 or later when exchanging instant messages and presence information with public instant messaging providers such as AOL Instant Messenger and Office Communications Server. Pre-7.5 clients are not licensed to connect with public instant messaging providers. The Sametime server will check and disable the Add external user checkbox if a client of an older version is used. It is the responsibility of the Sametime Gateway administrator to comply with the licensing agreement.