What to do if you have a sister or friend who wants to chat on msn 
but you are running linux and dont want to install an msn program?
Bitlbee is the answer.
It lets you connect to all those IM networks trough your irc client, 
or even on a web interface like bitlbee-web.pethippo.co.uk and if 
you can't install it you can just connect to an 
irc bitlbee server 
(im.everdot.org or look here: http://www.bitlbee.org/main.php/servers.html)

Or install it, it doesn't take much space or memory. 
Your contact info and passwords are safest on your own installed bitlbee 
server of course. But who cares about chatpasswords anyway?

and see this short howto: http://linuxreviews.org/software/irc/bitlbee/

in short: 
/connect im.everdot.org
/j #bitlbee
register your_password (next time you visit: identify your_password)

Jabber: account add jabber you@jabber.org yourpassword 
MSN : account add msn you@hotmail.com yourpassword 
ICQ: account add oscar 648244897 yourpassword login.icq.com 
AIM: account add oscar 321454897 yourpassword login.oscar.aol.com

account list : to view what accounts are saved and their status

account on : to log in