OSCAR protocol

From Free net encyclopedia

OSCAR is AOL's instant messaging and presence information protocol standing for Open System for CommunicAtion in Realtime. Currently OSCAR is in use for AOL's two main instant messenging systems: ICQ and AIM.

Despite its name, the specifications for the protocol are proprietary. AOL has gone to great lengths to keep competitors, namely Microsoft, Jabber, and Cerulean Studios, from implementing compatible clients for their proprietary messaging system. Oddly they have allowed Apple Computer to use it in their iChat program, allowing iChat users to interact with ICQ and AIM users directly.

Large parts of the protocol are nowadays understood after reverse-engineering the protocol, implemented by an ever-increasing number of 3rd party clients.

On March 6, 2006, AOL released the AIM SDK and developer website, allowing developers to build plugins for AIM Triton, and build their own custom clients.