Pidgin

Pidgin is a graphical Instant Messenger (IM) program that lets you sign on to AIM, Jabber, MSN, Yahoo!, and other IM networks. It used to be known as Gaim but has recently changed its name to avoid confusion with AOL's instant messenger (AIM).

Pidgin integrates well with GNOME 2 and KDE 3.1's system tray. This allows you to work with Pidgin without requiring the buddy list window to be open at all times.

There are a large number of plugins available, adding functionality to the software.  Examples include Album (archives buddy icons), Plonkers (announces your ignore list to a chat room), Talk Filters, and XMMS Remote.

There is also a console based version of Pidgin supporting the same IM networks available.  This software is known as  Finch.

Pidgin 2.4.1

Price Free to download Size 9.0MB License GNU General Public License Developer Sean Egan (lead developer), and 18+ other developers Website pidgin.im System Requirements GTK+ version 2.10.x. Other dependencies include: GNUTLS or Mozilla NSS, gtkspell, perl, TCL, TK, libsilc, Evolution-Data-Server, libpurple, finch. Support Sites: Pidgin Planet, Pidgin Plugins Selected Reviews: ars technica, Extreme Tech, ReviewSaurus, Softpedia

Pidgin supports the following IM services:

• AIM
• Bonjour
• Gadu-Gadu
• Google Talk
• Groupwise
• ICQ
• IRC
• MSN
• QQ
• SILC
• SIMPLE
• Sametime
• XMPP
• Yahoo!
• Zephyr

Features include:

• Multiple account access support
• On-action automated scripts for contact status changes (known as Buddy Pounces)
• Tabbed message windows for conversation management
• Grouping multiple buddies into a single "contact"
• Conversation and chat logging
• Notification pop-ups
• Built-in NSS support, offering client-to-server message encryption for protocols that support it.
• Plugins "Off-the-Record Messaging" and Pidgin encryption, offering end-to-end message encryption.
• Contact aliasing
• Spell checking
• Notification area integration

Last Updated Thursday, April 24 2008 @ 02:31 PM EDT