As long time Pidgin user since the Gaim day (and current Adium, Pidgin’s derivative, user), I have been sick of the missing advanced IM protocol features, especially MSNP protocol.

The current version of Pidgin/Libpurple only supports MSNP9 and the latest stable version in Microsoft Windows Live Messenger is MSNP15. That means Pidgin and all derivatives can only send text message and chat in group. File transferring is also available but only slow & indirect method.

I don’t want any eyecandy features like Nudge, Wink or animated emoticon from my client. The features I need are productive ones, such as:

• Direct (aka “fast”) file transfer
• Offline message support. Sometimes I never receive urgent offline message from friends and miss some opportunity.
• Personal message. To know the current status of my friends.

Just only these. Reasonable?