Pidgin (formerly named Gaim, and we can pronounce it "/?p?d??n/") is an open-source, cross-platform instant chat client application developed in GTK, supports all IM clients which using common instant communication protocols (see list below) at the same time.
Pidgin enable you to use different accounts to login under multiple instant communication networks. This means that you can have a chat with your friends on AOL Instant Messenger while sending files to your co-workers on Yahoo Messenger, meanwhile you are also allowed to chat with others in some IRC channel.
Pidgin has a comprehensive support to all these instant communication networks, in addition to the general chat application, others like file transfer, leave tip, type in a tip and so on can also be supported. Besides, it has many unique function, one of the most popular is the good friend reminding function, that is when a good friend leaves or is offline, Pidgin will inform you in some ways, such as sending message, playing sound, or even running a program.
Pidgin runs on Windows, Linux (including Ubuntu, BSD), Mac OS X (but i thinks the better choice is Adium) these three main operating systems. With very comprehensive and functions but small size, runs fast and completely free.
Supported Communication Protocol
- AIM
- Bonjour
- Gadu-Gadu
- Google Talk
- Groupwise
- ICQ
- IRC
- Jabber
- Jingle
- Lotus Sametime
- MobileMe
- MSN
- MXit
- MySpaceIM
- Novell GroupWise Messenger
- SILC
- SIMPLE
- Sametime
- XMPP
- Yahoo!
- YMSG
- Zephyr
Related Links
- Pidgin Official & Third-Party Plugins and Additional Protocols
- Pidgin User Guide
- Pidgin Frequently Asked Questions
Download URLs
(Homepage | SourceForge)