chapter 6 of peer to peer: harnessing the power of disruptive technologies – “conversational technologies” is available online and presents a nice summary of how some people think jabber might fit into the world:
“Conversations provide a comfortable medium in which knowledge flows in both directions, and where contributors share an inherent context through their subjects and relationships. In addition to old forms of conversations–direct interaction and communication over the phone and in person–conversations are becoming an increasingly important part of the networked world. Witness the popularity of email, chat, and instant messaging, which enable users to increase the range and scope of their conversations to reach those that they may not have before.
Still, little attention has been paid in recent years to the popular Internet channels that most naturally support conversations.”