IM solution (Pidgin)

Member Name: alphason

Product:	Pidgin
Date:	31/07/08 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Multi IM clients

Disadvantages: not much

Pidgin is a multi protocol instant messaging gadget that allows you to use multiple instant messaging accounts at the same time.

This for me is a really handy gadget. I work from home and find instant messaging to be a good inexpensive easy way to communicate, the problem of course if there are many different types of IM (instant messengers). If you stick with the software from your IM provider chances are it will only communicate within the same system, this is where pidgin comes in.

Pidgin is a software based IM system that will run on Windows, Linux and Unix operating systems.

It is compatible with pretty much all IM services, all running at the same time:
IM, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, MySpaceIM, and Zephyr.

Compared to say Windows Messenger it does not cover all the extra features like video and voice chat, but it does have a good set of options available.

Pidgin will allow files transfers between IM accounts, it will notify you when someone is typing a message, it support away and busy modes. A handy feature is buddy pounces that work like a macro, so if a buddy signs in, goes offline, sends you a message you can get Pidgin to run a program, play a notification sound or send a message.

There are many plugins available to modify Pidgin, spell checkers, away messages, formatting alterations, date and time stamps, text replacement.

I Personally like the opportunity to disable some accounts, as I don't always want to be available on all networks.

Having used this software for a while now and have never had any problems at all, it is easy to use and very reliable.

Pidin is available as a free download from the following URL:

http://www.pidgin.im/download/

Summary: Great communication solution

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