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6 Best Linux Instant Messengers

Written by axel

Instant Messaging is a form of real time communication between two or more people based on typed text. Ok you all know that! Of course nowadays instant messaging has made a step forward and it includes video and microphone conversation. Windows Live Messenger is probably the most popular instant messenger application used, but it is only released for Windows users. So, what are the alternatives of Linux users? I assure you there are many different instant messenger programs that will suit everyones needs. Here I will show you the best 6 Instant Messenger clients for Linux.

Pidgin

Pidgin is a multi-protocol Instant Messaging client that allows you to use all of your IM accounts at once. This means you can log in to multiple accounts on multiple IM networks simultaneously. It runs on a number of platforms, including Windows, Linux, and other UNIX operating systems. This is Ubuntu's 8.10 Intrepid Ibex default Instant Messenger.

Supported protocols are:

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

Kopete

Kopete is the KDE instant messaging (IM) client. It offers plugins that provide functions that aren't essential for messaging, but are useful for some people. Some plugins are History logs, Now Listening, OTR encrypted conversations and others.

Supported protocols are:

AIM
ICQ
MSN
Yahoo
Jabber
Google Talk
Novell GroupWise
Gadu-Gadu
WinPopup

Empathy

Empathy consists of a rich set of reusable instant messaging widgets, and a GNOME client using those widgets. It also supports Voice and Video call using SIP and Jingle. The upcoming Fedora 10 release will include Empathy as it's default Instant Messenger.

Supported protocols are:

Jabber
Gtalk
MSN
IRC
Salut
and all supported by pidgin

aMSN

aMSN is a free open source MSN Messenger clone, with features such as Offline Messaging, file transferring, Voice Clips, Webcam support, appear offline status, conferencing support and tabbed chat windows. Its functionality can be extended through the use of plugins. Moreover you can download skins to change its appearance which you might not like since it is based on tcl/tk. However aMSN2 is on the road with a new interface. This is on of tne of the best MSN replacements for Linux!

emesene

Emesene is another MSN Messenger client for the WLM (Windows Live Media) Network. It can be customized with skins and it supports file transfers, offline messaging, nudges and the use of plugins. In development versions there is Webcam support and Winks.

Features:

Clean and easy to use GUI
Tabbed chat
Custom emoticons
File transfers
Offline messaging
Personal messages
Nudges
Multilingual GUI
Customization

Themes
Smileys
Sounds
GUI
Conversation format

Plugins
MSN Plus!
Chat logging

Features available in development versions

Webcam receiving
Winks

KMEss

KMEss is an alternative MSN Messenger chat client for Linux. It's fully integrated with the KDE Desktop Environment and it focuses on MSN Messenger specific features. Some of its features are:

Display picture transfers
Fast file transfers
Custom emoticons and nudges
Winks and offline-im messages receiving
Rich and colorful chat styles and logs
Live Mail e-mail notifications

KMess 2 is still in an Alpha release but here are the most significant additions:

Support for MSN connections over HTTP, to deal with corporate firewalls.
Support for Ink (hand-written) messages.
Support for tabbed chatting.
Support for MSN Plus text formatting.
Every dialog received a makeover.
Chat Windows can be re-used again after reconnecting.
Support to chat with offline and invisible contacts.
Searchbox in the contact list.
Options to choose the browser and e-mail client used by KMess.
A lot of new highly requested options, like blocking notifications when busy, choosing file transfer ports, winks disabling, and contact list customization options.

BitlBee

BitlBee brings IM (instant messaging) to IRC clients. It's a great solution for people who have an IRC client running all the time and don't want to run an additional MSN/AIM/whatever client.

BitlBee currently supports the following IM networks/protocols: XMPP/Jabber (including Google Talk), MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM and ICQ.

Just install the program and connect to the BitlBee server with your favourite IRC-client. You will be force-joined into the control channel where root (the bot, your assistant, the bee) will try to help you to get the program working.

As soon as you get your accounts working, you can add users to your contact list and talk to them, just like you normally do on IRC. Open a query, talk to the person in the channel, or even talk to them in groupchats that will look to you like just another IRC channel.

Gyachi

Gyachi is a fork from Gyach Enhanced Yahoo! client for Linux operating systems. This Yahoo! client for Linux operating system supports almost all of the features you would expect to find on the official Windows Yahoo! client: Voice chat, webcams, faders, 'nicknames', audibles, avatars, display images, and more. Yet, it remains very light-weight and memory-friendly. GyachE Improved uses Gtk-2 for its user interface.

Do you have any other Instant Messenger program that you use and you like it? Feel free to propose it in our comments section below! Enjoy!

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Sephi said:

	You forgot bitlbee (http://www.bitlbee.org) which is a perfect IM system for users who use IRC and don't want another client for their IM. You can use it with irssi to connect to MSN from the command line, which is perfect when using it with a remote server.
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November 19, 2008
Votes: +0

axel said:

	Thanks Sephi for your comment. I didn't know bitlbee. I will add it among the other clients!
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November 19, 2008
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CyberLie said:

	Thanks a lot for this great guide...........keep up the good work
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November 29, 2008
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Sinkinglow said:

	GyachE is a great yahoo im replacement. It supports more of the native yahoo im functions. It's a linux only client. http://sourceforge.net/projects/gyachi
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January 01, 2009
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axel said:

	Thank you Sinkinglow! I will add this application in the guide.
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January 01, 2009
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Erik said:

	Thanks a lot for this excellent guide, especially for the MS core fonts. Yes, they are nice to have. yours always, Erik
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February 15, 2009
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Breg said:

	My favorite IM is qutIM: http://qutim.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QutIM
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April 10, 2009
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axel said:

	I didn't know this Instant Messenger Breg. Looking at its current version it's a new one. And its cross platform too! Nice! Thanks!
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April 11, 2009
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sam said:

	the best cli client. centerim, a fork of centericq. its awesome...
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May 10, 2009
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axel said:

	Thanks for the info sam. I didn't know centerim. I will add it to this messengers list.
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May 10, 2009
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ys_sunshine said:

	thanks for this guide~~~
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August 12, 2009
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 January 2009 )

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