Update Required for Exchange IM on XP

Changes in protocol support in Microsoft’s instant messaging (IM) products mean that organizations will have to update new Windows XP desktops to work with Exchange 2000 IM systems.

Why the Update Is Required

The update is necessary because of rapidly changing protocols in the IM space. Exchange 2000 used the Rendezvous Protocol (RVP), which was similar to Internet Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP), a protocol endorsed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). RVP is supported in the MSN Messenger client software, which until the release of Windows XP was the standard Windows messaging client. This meant that users could employ the MSN Messenger client in Exchange-based IM systems. (See “Exchange 2000 Includes Instant Messaging Capability ” on page 9 of the Nov. 2000 Update.)

However, the IETF and the rest of the industry have moved away from IMPP and toward a new, more flexible standard, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which supports many real-time media formats, including video, audio, and data. (For background, see “Session Initiation Protocol” on page 10 of the Aug. 2001 Update.)