How can I call my contacts when pidgin for Ubuntu 9.04 does not support voice calls?

Unfortunately, pidgin does not support voice calls. I have read some thread that messengers like telepathy, empathy, skype, and other related messengers support voice calls in Linux. What would you advice? Can I delete Pidgin and replace it with Skype, telepathy, or empathy? How do I do that? Can someone teach me the step-by-step procedure? Thanks in advance!

 

Empathy runs on telepathy (basically), aMSN has voice/video for msn. Skype is proprietary but easy to use and wide spread like msn. Empathy and Ekiga will also work fine but you need to specify what you need to use.

 

You can remove programs through the package manager.

 

So what would you recommend me to do? My specific use for a messenger is to chat, transfer files, webcam, and voice calls. Pidgin is actually good because it's just like using my ym. With Pidgin, my ym contacts need not have to be pidgin users; unlike Skype. However, Pigdin has no voice calls and webcam features. Do Telepathy and Empathy work like Pidgin but support voice calls and webcam?

 

Empathy might be what you're looking for.

 

My dear friend, you're missing the 'ideals' of linux. It's all about finding what program works for you, no making the user work for the program like in *cough*Windows*cough*

You don't NEED to remove pidgin, but do so if you want. Are you using Ubuntu?

Messengers that I know that support webcam/video calling/audio calling are Kopete(requires some KDE libraries), Amsn, skype, and Empathy. If you don't have a download limit, just download all of them and see which fits you better.

 

I'm using Ubuntu 9.04. If use Empathy, will it able me to chat, call, and view in webcam with my YM contacts too? Because Pidgin is actually great because it's like YM with all the features just without webcam and voice calls.

How can I get Empathy? (
What about Digsby? Is it also good? I keep on seeing as ads in some Ubuntu websites

 

google chat

 

Use Add/Remove Programs and choose the one you want to install/uninstall. Just tick/untick next the the desired program. Make sure to choose all available programs at the top dropbar.

 

Can Google chat enable me to chat with ym contacts and call them too? Any recommendations on using empathy? Digsby?

 

I have to idea to all those questions. Why don't you try them for yourself and see if it work?

 

Might be of interest... Pidgin 2.6 adds Google Talk video and voice support