Just wanted to mention that the builtin 8.0.1 sametime client is now able to connect to extst.ibm.com. Thanks to whoever fixed it at IBM 
Subject: Works, but now adding users.
The connection works perfect, but we can’t add people from the IBM Community.
Marco Janssen.
Subject: Are you adding them as an external user and using their IBM email address?
Subject: Can’t add external contact anymore
As Marco posted earlier, I experience the same thing on my 8.0.1 client. There used to be a checkbox to add external contact via their emailadress.
Subject: Add sametime contact
When I add a new Sametime Contact and I select extst.ibm.com as mine Server Community, I can only search for user name. Previous there was the possibility tot search by e-mail.
Marco Janssen