Pidgin, formerly known as Gaim, is a client instant messaging free software released under the GNU GPL.
Until April 2007, Pidgin was known as Gaim, but the words "AIM" and "IM" were recorded by AOL (americas Online), so it had to reach an agreement with the company and change its name to Pidgin, also changed the name of its main library, libgaim, which was renamed libpurple. The program was called that way in its infancy, and began as an emulator AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) for Linux environments, gAIM = GTK + AIM.
Pidgin is messenger multi-protocol and multi-platform, therefore allowing the use of different instant messaging accounts of several protocols simultaneously, and can run on different platforms like Linux, * BSD, Windows, SkyOS and Qtopia.
The instant messaging protocols currently supported by Pidgin are:
- AIM (AOL Instant Messenger). Through OSCAR protocols or OCD.
- Bonjour
- Gadu-Gadu
- Google Talk
- ICQ (OSCAR or TOC)
- Internet Relay Chat (known as IRC)
- MSN (.NET Messenger Service). In a limited way, because at the moment does not support multimedia features such as webcam or voice conferences, among others.
- MySpaceIM
- QQ
- Jabber
- Lotus Sametime
- Novell Groupwise
- OpenNAP
- SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). In a limited way, currently only chat features.
- SILC
- Simple
- Yahoo! In a limited way, only basic functions chat and file transfer.
- Zephyr
Key features of Pidgin:
- Multi-protocol, supporting at present the vast majority of the popular instant messaging protocols.
- It is multi-platform environments can be run in Linux, * BSD, Windows, SkyOS and Qtopia, among others.
- Supports multiple file transfers between contacts unlimited transfer rate.
- Holds a very advanced file transfers manager, allowing organize current transfers in a separate window, allowing pause, cancel or summarize without locate in the conversation window of contact.
- Allows grouping several conversations in one window using a system of tabs.
- Allowsconnect to different messaging networks simultaneously, and multiple accounts of the same protocol, offering the possibility to organize contacts by state, groups or type of messenger, among others.
- Allows save the history of talks, events, contacts, transfers and avatars.
- Allows you to edit the name of contacts for easy recognition.
- Supports the use of aggregates and Plugins to enhance its functionality, and consists of a huge community of developers who bring these Plugins for free.
- Allows encryption using the talks or the RSA encryption protocol cryptography OTR (Off-the-record Messaging).
- Holds a system Messages absence fully configurable.
- Allows receive, send and manage e Emoticones custom emoticons.
- It incorporates the function of checking spelling of messages.
- Allows execute actions of the programme with mouse movements.
- Compatible with the use of color in nicks MSN Plus!.
- It has a plug that allows for replacements Autotext, So it is possible to generate tables words to be replaced. This feature can be especially useful if you want to avoid receiving insults or avoid sending spelling words with faults, automatically replacing the misspelled word in the right way.
This download corresponds to version of Pidgin 2.5.1 for Linux.
Downloads Pidgin available for other operating systems: