diff --git a/buffet/xmpp/xmpp_connection.h b/buffet/xmpp/xmpp_connection.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..741f4c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/buffet/xmpp/xmpp_connection.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// Copyright 2015 The Chromium OS Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+// found in the LICENSE file.
+
+#ifndef BUFFET_XMPP_XMPP_CONNECTION_H_
+#define BUFFET_XMPP_XMPP_CONNECTION_H_
+
+#include <string>
+
+#include <base/macros.h>
+
+namespace buffet {
+
+class XmppConnection {
+ public:
+  XmppConnection() {}
+  virtual ~XmppConnection();
+
+  // Initialize the XMPP client. (Connects to talk.google.com:5222).
+  virtual bool Initialize();
+
+  int GetFileDescriptor() const { return fd_; }
+
+  // Needs to be called when new data is available from the connection.
+  virtual bool Read(std::string* msg) const;
+
+  // Start talking to the XMPP server (authenticate, etc.)
+  virtual bool Write(const std::string& msg) const;
+
+ private:
+  // The file descriptor for the connection.
+  int fd_{-1};
+
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(XmppConnection);
+};
+
+}  // namespace buffet
+
+#endif  // BUFFET_XMPP_XMPP_CONNECTION_H_
+