Instant Messaging with Pidgin

Pidgin is a multiprotocol instant messaging (IM) client. It is compatible with AOL* Instant Messenger (AIM), Google Talk, GroupWise® Messenger, ICQ, IRC, MSN Messenger, Jabber/XMPP, Yahoo!*, and other networks.

With Pidgin, you can log in to multiple accounts on multiple IM networks simultaneously. Pidgin also supports many features of the various networks, such as file transfer, away messages, and typing notification.

To start Pidgin, click Computer+More Applications+Internet+Pidgin, or press Alt+F2 and enter pidgin.

To add an account to Pidgin, select Accounts+Manage Accounts from the Buddy List. Click Manage Accounts, select the protocol you want, and type your login information in the appropriate fields. Activate the account by checking the Save checkbox in the account list.

Add contacts by clicking Buddies+Add Buddy. An assistant appears to help with creation. However, you must be online and connected to the selected messaging service to add a contact to your list.

To start a chat, double-click the desired contact and type your message in the lower part of the chatting window. Press Enter to send the message. The upper part of the window displays the messages you have sent and received.