Bug 129829

Version:           0.10.3 (using KDE 3.4.2, Mandrake Linux Cooker i586 - Cooker)
Compiler:          Target: i586-mandriva-linux-gnu
OS:                Linux (i686) release 2.6.12-12mdk

First of all, let me say that Kopete is a great piece of software and I use it all day at my personal machine. Appreciating it as much as I do, through time I've been seeing that there is truly a need to have in KDE the ability to handle "casual" IM connections, besides the traditional ones we are accustomed to as full time "sedentary" users.

So I'd like to ask you to consider the inclusion of a "Cybercafe Mode" or "Public PC Mode" (or whatever similar name you come up with), under which Kopete could behave just like a simple IM client (i.e.: no KDE user addressbook/contact list integration, perhaps just one IM protocol connection at a time if it simplifies the implementation, and other simplifications you see fit).

The fact is that if KDE is to be deployed in public places (cybercafes, trade-show booths, public offices, etc.), where the machine is locked using one system user and where lots of people are intended to be using it, it becomes evident that KDE, as the user friendly environment it is, has to provide a simple way to let people connect to their favorite IM system, requesting only a username and a password, and temporarily getting the contacts from the server at connect time, without leaving a trace of them after the user logs out. The reasons behind this requested behaviour range from simplicity of procedures (just user, password and go!) to security ones (nobody wants his personal contact list being left available to others on a public machine).

As I envision it, when connecting using this proposed "Cybercafe Mode" the application would present a simple dialog in which the user has to select the preferred IM protocol to use (ICQ, MSN, etc.) and its username and password strings (much like the "official" IM clients do, except in Kopete the user should also select the protocol to use).
When the user logs in, the user contacts are fetched from the server, and when he/she logs out they are not stored anywhere.

I think the idea is really simple and most important, really needed!
I understand, though, that the implementation could have its difficulties, so all I ask is for you to pleace consider it, and see if it's feasible with the limited resources I know you have.

Many thanks!