Name: Monal - XMPP chat
Rating: 4 (17 reviews)
Author: Anurodh Pokharel

Description

Monal allows you to connect to your chat server without having to give a third party access to your password or messages. Whether it is a personal Google talk account or a corporate chat server, it is important not to give someone access to sensitive information. This app has no ads, no user behavior tracking and all messages are exchanged directly with the XMPP chat server.

Notable features:
-Open Source
- No Ads! Strong focus on privacy. Does not phone home and does not have "metrics" software beyond anonymous crash reporting (crashlytics). Does not read any personal information.
- A direct client that does not transmit your password to a 3rd party.
- Standard XMPP Jingle VOIP. Allows voice conversation with any other user with a program that supports it (e.g. GTalk, pidgin, psi, etc.)
- OMEMO encrypted chat
- Will work with corporate XMPP servers that require VPN
- MUC multi user chat
- Reply from notifications
- Tested heavily with Google Talk, Openfire, Prosody and eJabberd servers.

Implements XMPP certain extensions intended to improve mobile communication.
- XEP-0357: Push Notifications
- XEP-0280: Message Carbons keep messages in synch between clients.
- XEP-0198: Stream Management to quickly reconnect.
- XEP-0199: XMPP Ping to maintain connections.
- XEP-0313: Message Archive Management to download chat history.
- XEP-0352: Client State Indication for dramatic reduction on power use.
- XEP-0363: HTTP File Upload to send images in conversations.

Jun 15, 2019

Version 3.8

In app registration on blabber.im
In app password changes
Addressed compatibility issue specifically with prosody that caused higher battery use.

4.0 out of 5

17 Ratings

ideal XMPP app

All the ingredients to make an excellent XMPP app are here. Responsive developer using a peer reviewable open source coding process and licensing. If I had a business, I'd hire this developer to integrate more with other productivity tools and add custom alert sounds.

Not yet ready for prime time, it seems

MUCs don’t properly create as it throws away the associated account; Adding MUCs have no user feedback; Online users only show up for one of my XMPP accounts; “Quick” adding an account threw out the TLD for some reason.

Second time trying it in the hopes there were fewer bugs — and, in its defense, I was able to add my personal account and my business accounts this time, but not with full functionality. Perhaps it also can actually maintain push events without silently disconnecting you from your accounts this time around, but it will remain a mystery to me.

Connection unreliable

Connects to corporate Xmpp server okay, but I see two MAJOR issues that prevent me from using:
1. The list of online users is not correct. There are users who are online and available, but do not show in the list. Disconnecting and reconnecting does not help.
2. Connection drops after some time with no indication whatsoever. I’ll go back to app and all looks good with the list of users that appear online/away, but the connection has actually dropped and that list means nothing. Have to disconnect and reconnect to get back online.

Have not tested the actual ‘chat’ functionality due to the above rendering the app unusable to me.

If I can help by providing some kind of log file, please let me know how.

iOS is sorely lacking in reliable direct connect xmpp clients and this app shows the most promise.

Hi,
Thanks for the feedback. I have tried to address your issues in 3.1 that is currently out. Please let me know if it is still a problem

Information

Seller: Anurodh Pokharel
Size: 14.5 MB
Category: Social Networking
Compatibility: Requires iOS 9.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Languages: English
Age Rating: Rated 4+
Copyright: © Anurodh Pokharel
Price: Free