diff --git a/jabber.c b/jabber.c
index 41bd9a16..dc2b1f18 100644
--- a/jabber.c
+++ b/jabber.c
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ static int _jabber_message_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn,
 static int _roster_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn, xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza,
     void * const userdata);
 
+static int _jabber_presence_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn, 
+    xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza, void * const userdata);
+
 static int _ping_timed_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn, void * const userdata);
 
 void jabber_init(int disable_tls)
@@ -199,6 +202,7 @@ static void _jabber_conn_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn,
 
         xmpp_stanza_t* pres;
         xmpp_handler_add(conn, _jabber_message_handler, NULL, "message", NULL, ctx);
+        xmpp_handler_add(conn, _jabber_presence_handler, NULL, "presence", NULL, ctx);
         xmpp_id_handler_add(conn, _roster_handler, "roster", ctx);
         xmpp_timed_handler_add(conn, _ping_timed_handler, PING_INTERVAL, ctx);
 
@@ -206,7 +210,6 @@ static void _jabber_conn_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn,
         xmpp_stanza_set_name(pres, "presence");
         xmpp_send(conn, pres);
         xmpp_stanza_release(pres);
-        jabber_roster_request();
         jabber_conn.conn_status = JABBER_CONNECTED;
     }
     else {
@@ -278,3 +281,57 @@ static int _ping_timed_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn, void * const userdata)
 
     return 1;
 }
+
+/*
+
+<presence to="james.booth@framework" from="stephen.rank@framework/framework.corelogic.local">
+    <show>away</show>
+    <status>I'm not here right now</status>
+    <c hash="sha-1" xmlns="http://jabber.org/protocol/caps" 
+        ver="I22W7CegORwdbnu0ZiQwGpxr0Go=" node="http://pidgin.im/"/>
+    <x xmlns="vcard-temp:x:update"><photo/></x>
+</presence>
+
+    Lack of attribute means online.
+
+*/
+static int _jabber_presence_handler(xmpp_conn_t * const conn, 
+    xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza, void * const userdata)
+{
+    char *from = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(stanza, "from");
+    char *short_from = strtok(from, "@");
+    char *type = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(stanza, "type");
+
+   
+    if (type == NULL) { // online
+        xmpp_stanza_t *show = xmpp_stanza_get_child_by_name(stanza, "show");
+        if (show != NULL) {
+            char *show_str = xmpp_stanza_get_text(show);
+            xmpp_stanza_t *status = xmpp_stanza_get_child_by_name(stanza, "status");
+            
+            if (status != NULL) {
+                char *status_str = xmpp_stanza_get_text(status);
+            
+                if (show_str != NULL)
+                    cons_show_contact_online(short_from, show_str, status_str);
+            }
+        }
+    } else { // offline
+        xmpp_stanza_t *show = xmpp_stanza_get_child_by_name(stanza, "show");
+        if (show != NULL) {
+            char *show_str = xmpp_stanza_get_text(show);
+            xmpp_stanza_t *status = xmpp_stanza_get_child_by_name(stanza, "status");
+            
+            if (status != NULL) {
+                char *status_str = xmpp_stanza_get_text(status);
+            
+                if (show_str != NULL)
+                    cons_show_contact_offline(short_from, show_str, status_str);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+
diff --git a/windows.c b/windows.c
index c7a6fcd1..f8144a39 100644
--- a/windows.c
+++ b/windows.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ void gui_init(void)
         init_pair(4, COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_BLUE);
         init_pair(5, COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_BLACK);
         init_pair(6, COLOR_RED, COLOR_BLACK);
+        init_pair(7, COLOR_MAGENTA, COLOR_BLACK);
     }
 
     refresh();
@@ -203,6 +204,32 @@ void cons_bad_message(void)
     cons_show("Usage: /msg user@host message");
 }
 
+void cons_show_contact_online(char *from, char *show, char *status)
+{
+    _win_show_time(0);    
+    wattron(_wins[0].win, COLOR_PAIR(2));
+
+    if (status != NULL) 
+        wprintw(_wins[0].win, "+ %s is %s, \"%s\"\n", from, show, status);
+    else 
+        wprintw(_wins[0].win, "+ %s is %s\n", from, show);
+    
+    wattroff(_wins[0].win, COLOR_PAIR(2));
+}
+
+void cons_show_contact_offline(char *from, char *show, char *status)
+{
+    _win_show_time(0);    
+    wattron(_wins[0].win, COLOR_PAIR(7));
+
+    if (status != NULL) 
+        wprintw(_wins[0].win, "- %s is %s, \"%s\"\n", from, show, status);
+    else 
+        wprintw(_wins[0].win, "- %s is %s\n", from, show);
+    
+    wattroff(_wins[0].win, COLOR_PAIR(7));
+}
+
 void win_handle_switch(int *ch)
 {
     if (*ch == KEY_F(1)) {
diff --git a/windows.h b/windows.h
index 1a59d79e..010f8003 100644
--- a/windows.h
+++ b/windows.h
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ void cons_show(char *cmd);
 void cons_good_show(char *cmd);
 void cons_bad_show(char *cmd);
 void cons_highlight_show(char *cmd);
+void cons_show_contact_online(char *from, char *show, char *status);
+void cons_show_contact_offline(char *from, char *show, char *status);
 
 // status bar actions
 void status_bar_refresh(void);