http://isdb4l77sjqoy2qq7ipum6x3at6hyn3jmxfx4zdhc72ufbmuq4ilwkqd.onion/docs/glossary.html
This allows the users to choose their provider, that will hold their account, their messaging history and contacts, and communicate with other providers' servers on behalf of the user. The examples are email, XMPP, Matrix and Mastodon. The advantage of that design is that there is no single organization that all users depend on, and the standards are more difficult to change, unless it benefits all users.