Google IM - Google Talk

Google Talk is apparently live and will be officially announced on Wednesday. This isn't the new instant messenger client we'd been expecting though. It's essentially a Jabber server. You can use any Jabber compatible client like GAIM. Be sure to say hello to me - tomhanna.

Smash's World gives instructions for signing on:

If you're getting the 405 error with GAIM, or simply cannot connect anymore, follow the updated configuration instructions below!!! You have to use an @gmail.com address to login from now on.

Server: talk.google.com
Username: youremail@gmail.com
Password: yourpassword

Note: If you can't login, try to turn off 'Secure Messaging' or 'Encryption'... etc.

GAIM Instructions:

How to set it up with GAIM on Windows/Linux, or Adium on the Mac:
-- For iChat, just enter the information above.
1. Add an account, select "Jabber" as the protocol.
2. Your screen name is everything before the '@gmail.com'.
3. Server is 'gmail.com'.
4. Click "show more options" and make sure "use TLS if available" is checked. Leave "Force old SSL" and "allow plaintext..." unchecked for now. Connection port should be 5222, connection server should be 'talk.google.com' without the quotes.
5. Ta-da! Just login and you should be good-to-go.