If you have several instant messenger accounts to keep in touch with all of your friends/colleagues/clients then this could simplify your situation.
Pidgin offers a free, simple to use, single application that will allow you to communicate with all your ‘buddies’ (I have never liked this term) regardless of their account - gmail, AIM, Yahoo IM et al.
Click the screenshot above to visit their site and download the Instant Messenger Client and configurator.
We all use here it at Castorgray