I learned that Microsoft will be releasing an online app that registers domains and provides hosted IM via TechCrunch. I would imagine this is all done through MSN Messenger, ie: only for personal use. This would be kind of scary, but it will cause other registrars to up their offerings. When they do they'll only have three options: pay Microsoft, join another closed garden, or look to XMPP/Jabber.
Microsoft will be doing good with this.
Boost to XMPP?
Now that's a misleading title. Plus, I don't really see this as a good thing for anyone other than Microsoft, including the XMPP community. I doubt any other registrar will care, and this will only lock more people into the proprietary garden of MSN.
If google would just get off their ass and open S2S, then we would finally be going in the right direction!