Instant Messenger allows for sending out and receiving text messages, making voice and video calls in real time.

Messengers use its own communication protocols but multi-messengers let you connect to many others networks.

Pidgin

Multi-messenger Pidgin lets you to make connections with networks such as:

1. AOL

2. Gadu-Gadu

3. Google Talk

4. ICQ

5. IRC

6. MSN

7. Yahoo! and others...

1. Installation:

apt-get install pidgin

2. Run it from: Menu-> Network-> Pidgin Internet Messenger.

3. Running it first time configure your first account-> Add

for example Yahoo!

4. To add another account: Accounts tab-> Manage Accounts-> Add.

Pidgin home page: http://www.pidgin.im/

And on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_%28software%29

Kopete

Kopete multi-messenger is a part of KDE but you can use it anyway.

It lets you to make text messages and send out and receive webcam pictures.

Kopete connects to protocols:

1. AIM

2. ICQ

3. MSN

4. Yahoo!

5. Jabber

6. ICQ

7. Gadu-Gadu and others...

a. Install Kopete:

apt-get install kopete

c. Run it: Menu-> Network-> Kopete.

d. Add an account: Settings tab-> Accounts-> Add Account.

e. After that KDE KWallet ask you to create main password to protect your saved passwords

8. Kopete will receive your contact list itself.

Kopete home page: http://kopete.kde.org/

And on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopete

Skype

Skype allows making audio and video calls, video conferencing and text messaging in real time

and making calls to landlines phones and mobiles (VoIP).

1. Download application for Debian from: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/linux/choose/

2. Install it in Terminal as root:

dpkg -i skype-debian_version_i386.deb

in a case of missing dependencies:

apt-get install -f

3. Run Skype: Menu-> Network-> Skype accepting "User License".

4. Type your Skype name and password (or registry if you don't have it yet).

5. If your webcam doesn't want to work with Skype just edit "skype.desktop" file as root-> Terminal:

sux
mousepad /usr/share/applications/skype.desktop

The line below:

Exec=skype

change for:

Exec=env LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l2convert.so skype

then save the file and re-start Skype.

6. Next enter Options-> Video Devices and make webcam test.

7. Then enter Options-> Sound Devices and make sound and call test.

8. In a case of sound problems change Microphone and Speakers from default for other available.

9. And apply any changes before next testing.

10. You can start using Skype now.

Skype home page: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home

And on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

Others

1. QuteCom former OpenWengo or WengoPhone: http://www.qutecom.org/
2. Empathy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_%28software%29
3. Gajim: http://www.gajim.org/index.php?lang=en
4. aMSN: http://www.amsn-project.net/