Trying to provide jabber service to wordpress users….

I am currently seeking input from others regarding a task I would like to accomplish.

We have users who all use the same email server. This email server has IMAP access. I have successfully connected the WP authentication plugin to the IMAP server so that all users can login using their email address and password.

I would now like to add a web based jabber client that can authenticate against WP. IE, when a user logs into their WP account, the jabber program connects them.

The jabber software pieces I have been looking at (so far) include iJabBar, CometChat, and ArrowChat. Each of these act as a chat bar along the bottom of the browser – very similar to the chat bar in FaceBook.

CometChat is pretty much ruled out because it runs its own chat service. IE, it is not connected to a jabber server.

Any input from anyone that has accomplished this or even attempted it would be greatly appreciated!