Chat client for Facebook network?

Hello folks,

Does anyone know if there is a program like Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, etc (something minimal like Pidgin is fine, too) which would allow me to chat with people on Facebook? It seems that it's getting harder and harder for me to stay out of that network but keep contact with the people who are there and no longer bother with email, phone, and other chat networks.

Before you suggest I join Facebook: I have tried it, and have canceled it because it is more work than it's worth for me. I'm a rather busy person with one and a half jobs (one full time + one part time), a family, and a sports hobby. I don't want to waste time explaining to people why I refuse their friend invites when I haven't seen them for 10 years, nor do I want to re-configure the privacy settings every time Mark Zucherberg comes up with a new way to make money from which people have to opt-out from.

So... is there a Pidgin-like client that can interface with Facebook's network?

Thanks in advance!
HK

 

Trillian does...but you still need a Facebook account. There's no way you're going to be able to chat on the Facebook network without an account.

 

windows live messenger does once you integrate them together

 

Trillian pro works great

 

Digsby is a great free chat client that does support Facebook Chat, among many, many other chat options.

EDIT: As it happens, Lifehacker featured fTalk today, a relatively new and polished Facebook Chat desktop client. So, if you only need FB chat, this might be a good option!

 

Thanks for all the answers. In the meantime I noticed Pidgin supports Facebook.

I'll change the topic a bit: how does the integration of Windows Live Messenger and Facebook work? Do I get millions of notifications on WLM from when my FB friends comment on anything and everything? If yes, I'll stick with Pidgin...

 

you can't talk to people on facebook without having a facebook account. you can't talk to people on facebook unless they are already your friends.

i think you're slightly confused about how facebook works. it seems like you're thinking it works like twitter.

 

facebook has XMPP API so any of those clients that support XMPP(like pidgin) would work BUT it is via unencrypted channel(even for login). So think twice(though facebook is full of holes anyway so may not be an issue).

 

Chatting on FB without having an account is like posting in this thread without an account.

It just won't happen.

 

You can also integrate facebook into SKYPE.