How to configure Pidgin to work with Google Talk........

1. Download & Install the latest version of Pidgin.
2. Open Pidgin and go to Add / Edit Account window of Pidgin.
3. From the drop-down box choose XMPP as the Protocol.
4. For the Screen name enter your Google Id (Gmail Id).
5. For Server enter gmail.com
6. You can leave the Resource with the default Home.
7. In the Password field enter your Google ID password.
8. Enter Local alias as whatever you want to.

 
Then in the Advanced tab change the following settings.........

Force old (port 5223) SSL: Checked
Allow plaintext auth over unencrypted streams: Un-Checked
Connect Port: 443
Connect Server: talk.google.com
Proxy type: Use Global Proxy Settings

The same could be done in empathy too usually configuring gtalk account in pidgin and empathy is some what a messy work if u didnt configure the advanced tab that is the port etc if we dont configure these all we will get a "connect error".