How many times have we heard people complaining that its difficult to use IM services like Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, etc. on a GNU/Linux box, from behind a proxy? In fact, I asked the same question at the GLUG meeting held on 22 January. Well for those who are still scratching their heads in search of a solution, here are a few of them:

1. http://www.e-messenger.net: The worst of the lot. It allows you to IM through a web interface. As far as I recall, the chat room facility is still not available.

2. https://gtalkr.com: Its beauty is definitely unquestionable but beauty does come with its 'nakhra' (tantrums) as well. Flash player is required, and although its much quicker than the e-messenger, its not as fast as having the client on your machine. On Mozilla Firefox it keeps on asking to install Flash Player 8, even after downloading and installing it. :-( Moreover its only for Google Talk.

3. http://www.meebo.com: The most efficient of the lot. Although voice is absent on Google Talk, and the thing is still in the alpha stage, this is the best option in my opinion.

So go on and convert those friends of yours (I have a few) who were complaining about IMing on GNU/Linux into the world of freedom. After all the best things in the world are free!