Pidgin on Ubuntu (Jaunty): Configure pidgin to use gtalk and facebook chat

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One of my favourite IMs is Pidgin. Though I don’t use it on my Windows partition, it’s a must piece of software on my Ubuntu partition. With Pidgin, I don’t have to miss gtalk client on Ubuntu. Moreover, I can also configure my facebook chat to see my facebook friends if they are online and chat with them without having to login to facebook (which I hate to). Let’s see  how to install the facebook plugin for pidgin.

Home Page

http://www.pidgin.im/

Description

Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once.

Supported chat networks:

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

Installing facebook plugin

1. Go to the following link to download the facebook plugin for Pidgin.

http://code.google.com/p/pidgin-facebookchat/

2. Download the deb file. Click here to download it directly.

3. Double click the downloaded deb file (pidgin-facebookchat-1.53.deb) to install the facebook plugin for pidgin.

Setting up Facebook chat in Pidgin

1. After starting pidgin click Accounts > Manage Accounts.

2. Click Add to bring up the Add Account window.

3. From the protocol dropdown select facebook.

4. Enter your facebook credentials and your facebook chat account is now configured with pidgin.

5. Following is how the facebook contacts will appear on pidgin.

Now chat with your facebook contacts without having to login to facebook.