Using Pidgin to Crossplatform Chatting in Local Area Network (Ubuntu/Linux and Windows)

Image via Wikipedia

Pidgin Logo

A few year ago I was try to find some software for cross platform chatting between a Ubuntu Computer with Windows Computer. After a few hour searching, finally I found the better one, that is Pidgin.
Old version Ubuntu have a facility for chatting with Pidgin because it was the default application for chatting. For now, I don't know are the new default app still support for Local Area Network (LAN) Chatting. If you use old version Ubuntu, you don't need to install anything. If you use windows, so you must install this two software.

• Pidgin, an instant messenger client.

you can download it in http://www.pidgin.im/download/
for offline installation you can go to this link
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pidgin/files/Pidgin/2.7.3/pidgin-2.7.3-offline.exe

• Bonjour for windows, an zeroconf tool for windows.

Image via Wikipediayou can download it at
http://download.cnet.com/Bonjour-for-Windows/3000-18507_4-93550.html
After download that two software, the first step is to install the Bonjour. If you don't do this, your pidgin won't work for lan chatting.
And, after installing Bonjour, you can install pidgin and use it after that.
For, chatting in Local Area Network, you must start pidgin in both two machine that connected via Lan. Then, you can setup account for bonjour.
Now, you must see other account in your Pidgin and you can start for chatting with your friend.
update:
for new ubuntu version Pidgin is no longer installed by default. It's replaced with Emphaty. I suppose it doesn't support for bonjour account, so, you must install Pidgin with this command.

sudo apt-get install pidgin