OSCAR protocol

Open System for Communication in Realtime (OSCAR) is <a href="/facts/AOL/MAbT38QS">AOL</a>'s <a href="/facts/Proprietary_protocol/o902Cmmh">proprietary</a> <a href="/facts/Instant_messaging/8lwwDyjK">instant messaging</a> and <a href="/facts/Presence_information/0BsLtUFM">presence information</a> <a href="/facts/Protocol_(computing)/5uady7cB">protocol</a>. It was used by AOL's <a href="/facts/AOL_Instant_Messenger/0dHP73Sk">AIM</a> instant messaging system and <a href="/facts/ICQ/FnbSJ1GR">ICQ</a>.
Despite its name, the specifications for the protocol remain proprietary. AOL has gone to great lengths to keep competitors (namely <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a>, <a href="/facts/Extensible_Messaging_and_Presence_Protocol/hgulEuRA">XMPP</a>, and Cerulean Studios) from implementing compatible clients for their proprietary messaging systems. In 2002, AOL signed a contract with <a href="/facts/Apple_Computer/oTJYta3k">Apple, Inc.</a>, allowing them to use OSCAR (as well as AOL's own code libraries) in their <a href="/facts/IChat/5Itu8APp">iChat</a> application. This allowed iChat users to interact with ICQ and AIM users directly. The deal also permitted users of Apple's <a href="/facts/.Mac/esHrHHIS">.Mac</a> service to <a href="/facts/Login/xNRgTVnV">log in</a> to the AIM network using their .Mac email addresses. (This has carried over to Apple's <a href="/facts/MobileMe/esHrHHIS">MobileMe</a> service.)
As of 2009<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OSCAR_protocol&action=edit">[update]</a>, large parts of the protocol had been <a href="/facts/Reverse_engineering/pmJCV7J7">reverse-engineered</a> and implemented by a number of third-party clients.
The OSCAR protocol can be used separately from AOL's network. In fact, AOL expands on the general concept of OSCAR, adding systems for service-side buddy lists and icons, as well as features for file transfers using <a href="/facts/Bonjour_(software)/gFBhvEtj">Bonjour</a>.
On March 6, 2006, AOL released the AIM <a href="/facts/Software_development_kit/2Hkk6Hbs">SDK</a> and launched a developer website, allowing developers to build plugins for <a href="/facts/AIM_(software)/0dHP73Sk">AIM Triton</a>, and build their own custom clients, which connect over the OSCAR protocol. They had not, at that point, however, released any information about the protocol itself.
On March 5, 2008, AOL released portions of the OSCAR protocol documentation. Google also provided the ability to sign in to AIM network via the <a href="/facts/Google_Talk/DuDglrNP">Google Talk</a> client built into <a href="/facts/Gmail/GXU2IQH4">Gmail</a>.

OSCAR protocol open-in-new

OSCAR protocol