Use Skype through Pidgin

Pidgin is an open source IM client that supports various IM protocols such as Google Talk, Yahoo and MSN. By default it doesn't have the skype support. But there is a plugin which can add the support so u can chat and call skype users from pidgin.

The plugin uses the Skype public API. So to use this plugin, Skype have to be installed. Check this link: http://myjobspace.co.nz/images/pidgin/

For windows

1. Download this file: http://myjobspace.co.nz/images/pidgin/libskype.dll
2. Copy it to the Plugins folder where you installed pidgin.

For Linux

1. Download this file: http://myjobspace.co.nz/images/pidgin/libskype.so
2. Copy it to /usr/lib/purple-2/ or ~/.purple/plugins.
   

Then

1. Restart Pidgin.
2. Now you can create a new Skype IM account in pidgin. (Skype has to be running to use this plugin)
3. Skype will display a confirmation message.

Then u can use pidgin to chat with and call to skype contacts.