I blame Apple[1].  Google&#x27;s chat was free, but what happens when you have a free and open protocol, and your competitors don&#x27;t?  They consume your chats, but you can&#x27;t consume theirs.  Soon, your chat software can&#x27;t compete.  Apple has repeatedly chosen the path or proprietary when they could do open.  They are Microsoft from the 90&#x27;s with a better PR department.<p>1: I have little evidence beyond what <i>looks</i> obvious, but that could definitely be wrong.  I&#x27;m open to new information proving me wrong.