   Multiprotocol Instant Messenger Clients
  Hello,I have a quick question about applications such as Pidgin, Adium, Miranda IM, et al. All of these allow you to talk to people who use different IM services. But the question is, do I also need to have an account with every one of these services?I.e., in order to talk to an AIM user, do I also need an AIM account, despite the fact that I have Pidgin? Does there exist a chat client that would allow me not to have to sign up for an AIM account in order to talk to an AIM user? Is it even theoretically possible to create one?All thanks in advance.   
Quote:Original post by v0dKAHello,I have a quick question about applications such as Pidgin, Adium, Miranda IM, et al. All of these allow you to talk to people who use different IM services. But the question is, do I also need to have an account with every one of these services?Yes.Quote:Original post by v0dKAI.e., in order to talk to an AIM user, do I also need an AIM account, despite the fact that I have Pidgin? Does there exist a chat client that would allow me not to have to sign up for an AIM account in order to talk to an AIM user? Is it even theoretically possible to create one?All thanks in advance.No.;  Thanks for the quick help.   ;  Short answer:  You need an account on each service.  Each service will run its own set of servers which you need to connect to in order to chat with other people on that service - they won't let you connect if you don't have an account.Slightly more correct short answer: It depends on the service.  Some services may let you log in with an account you have on another service, or in some other way share accounts.  The Jabber protocol for example is very flexible and there are ways of linking it in with other protocols through proxy servers, which may (for example) let you chat with people who are using Jabber when you're connected through MSN, or vice-versa.John B   