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Am looking for an all-round Messenger for Ubuntu, especially one that supports Webcam, Voice Chat, Microphone, Drag/Drop support, File sending and other normal operations a messenger should have. I have tried Amsn, Kmess, Emesene, Pidgin and I am currently using Emesene. What messenger client would you recommend and what features do they offer in terms of:

  • Webcam
  • Voice Chat
  • Drag & Drop Support
  • File Upload/Download
  • Emoticons
  • Skin Theme
  • Ubuntu Notification Compatibility
  • Compatibility With other Messengers
  • Updated Messenger (There are many that their last update was when Star Trek 1 came out)
  • Compatibility with Email services (Sites like Yahoo, Hotmail or Google and their services like Google talk)
  • Any other you can think of.

What (unique?) features does your messenger client offer?

NOTE - I have posted some messengers from a little over 2 years of experience with each (I normally install several messengers) to help anybody that wants to try any of them.

5
  • forget about using your webcam for video chat other than skype own IM there's no other way of doing video chat+IM Jun 4, 2011 at 5:20
  • Pidgin perhaps? It has more features and options than the default Empathy messenger. I prefer to use Empathy because it's simple and looks nice. I don't need that much features. As the above comment said, if I want to video chat with someone, I use Skype or GMail. When I was still using KDE, Kopete really rocked! I missed that thing. :)
    – Marky
    Jun 4, 2011 at 6:46
  • @Uri - I can vouch for Amsn having webcam support and also Empathy. Other like Emesene and Kmess I am waiting. Jun 4, 2011 at 10:32
  • do they still work?!, amazing, i mean does videochat works when using the msn protocl? Jun 4, 2011 at 10:51
  • Empathy as far as i know works on the gtalk. On the msn one it does not but since I have not used the msn one since i moved my account to gmail for a better mail experience all around, for me, I do not care much about what msn does ;) (Besides, using hotmail for me is like hell, very confusing, not friendly and the page looks like an old html simple page that got married with 200 ads. Jun 4, 2011 at 15:33

8 Answers 8

9

Pidgin

Webcam Support - Yes
MSN Full Support - Yes
GTalk Full Support - Yes
Voice Chat - Yes
Protocols Supported - Multiple (GTalk, Msn, Yahoo...)
Send Files - Yes
Receive Files - Yes
Emoticons - Yes
Theme/Skin - Yes
Language Support - Yes
Drag & Drop Support - Yes
Ubuntu Notification Support - Yes
Last Updated (Since this Post) - Version 2.7.11 - March 11, 2011
Found in Ubuntu Repository - Yes (Version 1:2.7.11-1ubuntu2)
Now Playing Support - Yes (With several players like Banshee)
Plugins - Yes
PRO - Very compatible.
CON - Very simple/"old like" to the eye.

enter image description here

8

Empathy

Webcam Support - Yes
MSN Full Support - Yes (No Webcam, Voice Chat)
GTalk Full Support - Yes (Including Voice Chat, Video Chat to Cellular phones)
Voice Chat - Yes
Protocols Supported - Multiple (GTalk, Msn, Yahoo...)
Send Files - Yes
Receive Files - Yes
Emoticons - Yes
Theme/Skin - Yes (Only Chat)
Language Support - Yes
Drag & Drop Support - Yes
Ubuntu Notification Support - Yes
Last Updated (Since this Post) - Version 3.0.0 - April 4, 2011
Found in Ubuntu Repository - Yes (Version 2.34.0-0ubuntu3)
Now Playing Support - Yes (With extensions)
Plugins - No
PRO - Very compatible. Easy to use. Remote Desktop Shared
CON - No Plugin List, No custom theme.

enter image description here

4

Emesene

Webcam Support - Yes
MSN Full Support - Yes
GTalk Full Support - No
Voice Chat - No
Protocols Supported - MSN Protocol Only (With Plugins GTalk,Facebook can be used)
Send Files - Yes
Receive Files - Yes
Emoticons - Yes
Theme/Skin - Yes
Language Support - Yes
Drag & Drop Support - Yes
Ubuntu Notification Support - Yes
Last Updated (Since this Post) - Version 2.11.5 - May 30, 2011
Found in Ubuntu Repository - Yes (Version 2.11.4+dfsg-0ubuntu1)
Now Playing Support - Not Yet
Plugins - Yes
PRO - MSN Live Messenger Style, Easy to use/setup, Friendly
CON - No Full Video/Audio Support for all protocols

enter image description here

3

Qnext


Qnext is an multi-protocol Instant Messengers for Windows, Mac, Linux and Mobile. Qnext lets people connect to their digital content when they have access to the internet.


Qnext

All clients are freeware.

  • Desktop Client available for Mac, Windows and Linux computers.
  • An iPhone , iPod touch and iPad Application that can be downloaded from the Apple store.
  • A Mobile Web version and can be used with an WebKit based browser.

Qnext services run in a multi-tasking mode, which allows users to carry multiple tasks at the same time, such as talking to a group using video, transfer files, download files, view content, share content, carry IM conversation with others and more.

Qnext Desktop (PC) Client Features

  • Multi-protocol (universal) Instant Messaging for Facebook, MySpace, Windows Live Messenger (MSN), ICQ, AOL , Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, Jabber (XMPP) and iChat sends and receives IM messages and keeps users truly connected to everyone from a single contact list.
  • Qnext File transfer is a fast and secured way to get a file or folder of any size to any Qnext user and puts an end to using FTP or sending CD’s via courier or dealing with email attachment limitations. Just drag and drop any file or folder of any size on anyone on your contact list, and you’re done. The recipient will receive a message to allow the transfer and the content will be transferred. Files are sent using SSL encryption via peer to peer (P2P) connection directly to the recipient computer.
  • Voice chat (Audio conferencing) is multi-user voice conferencing (up to eight people at once). Qnext uses direct P2P routing to find the best available network connection; the quality of the user’s online "telephone" call is high. Mac, Windows, and Linux users can all jump on a Video or Voice call togethe
  • Video conferencing is a multi-user Video Chat (up to four people at once). This is where individuals or groups from around the world can meet face to face in real time, to interact for as long as they want, without any costs. Initiating a video conference is straightforward and easy. Qnext automatically detects video & sound devices.
  • Photo sharing is a way to share photos with anyone in seconds, even if the recipients don’t have Qnext.
  • File sharing is a great way to get those huge files where they need to go fast.
  • Streaming media (Music) allows to listen to your entire music library and iTunes or Media Player playlists from anywhere in the world.

Qnext for Linux

  • How to Install
  • Download Qnext
  • Decompress the downloaded archive and launch the application

     tar -xf qnextsetup.tgz 
     cd qnext
     ./qnext!
    

Wizard

Protocols Used

Main Window

Conversation Window

Source: http://www.qnext.com/ & http://en.wikipedia.com/

3

Amsn

Webcam Support - Not Yet (Until Version 0.99)
MSN Full Support - Not Yet (Until Version 0.99)
GTalk Full Support - No
Voice Chat - Not Yet (Until Version 0.99)
Protocols Supported - MSN Protocol Only
Send Files - Yes (Sometimes slow to start)
Receive Files - Yes (Sometimes slow to start)
Emoticons - Yes
Theme/Skin - Yes
Language Support - Yes
Drag & Drop Support - Not Yet (Until Version 0.99)
Ubuntu Notification Support - No (It shows its own Notification Window)
Last Updated (Since this Post) - Version 0.98 - December 8, 2010
Found in Ubuntu Repository - Yes (Version 0.98.4-0ubuntu1)
Now Playing Support - Yes (With several players like Banshee)
Plugins - Yes
PRO - Easy to use/setup, Many options for connection, contacts
CON - Slow

enter image description here

2
  • 1
    Please make each of these clients as a new answer so people can cast votes on their favorites Jun 4, 2011 at 16:26
  • This was the first one i tried. It was good until i met with Kmess and how it looked. Jun 4, 2011 at 16:34
2

Jitsi

Consider Jitsi, it's multi-platform and LGPL.

Jitsi

Video  conference

Jitsi Features

Cons: It's based on Java and looks ugly, does not respect the current theme and start-up is slow.

1

Kmess

Webcam Support - No
MSN Full Support - Yes (No Webcam, Voice Chat)
GTalk Full Support - No
Voice Chat - No
Protocols Supported - MSN Protocol Only
Send Files - Yes
Receive Files - Yes
Emoticons - Yes
Theme/Skin - Yes (Only Chat)
Language Support - Yes
Drag & Drop Support - Yes
Ubuntu Notification Support - Yes (In Kubuntu)
Last Updated (Since this Post) - Version 2.0.6.1 - February 17, 2011
Found in Ubuntu Repository - Yes (Version 2.0.6-0ubuntu1)
Now Playing Support - Yes (With several players like Banshee)
Plugins - No
PRO - Many options for conversations, emoticons, chat styles, connectivity...
CON - No Video/Audio Support.

enter image description here

0

Not certain that this will meet the needs of everyone, but Jitsi does do video chat. I suspect that it will not do everything noted in the original question.

Jitsi (previously SIP Communicator) is an audio/video and chat communicator that supports protocols such as SIP, XMPP/Jabber, AIM/ICQ, Windows Live, Yahoo!, Bonjour and many other useful features.

Jitsi is Open Source / Free Software, and is available under the terms of the LGPL.

Features listed here:

http://www.jitsi.org/index.php/Main/Features

2
  • yep, videochat with other users using a client with the same protocol works eg. XMPP, but as the page shows MSN is work in progress and most people uses MSN for that exactly, no matter the client MSN videochat doesn't work. :( Jun 4, 2011 at 11:06
  • I saw that too. Hopefully that work progresses quickly.
    – Kory Wnuk
    Jun 4, 2011 at 11:26

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