GVXMPP works by forwarding SMS messages to an XMPP account for you, allowing you to send and receive SMS messages from your favorite IM program, such as Pidgin, Adium, or even Beejive on your smartphone. All you need to do is set up a quick GVXMPP account and set your Google Voice to forward SMS messages to your email. Then, make sure those emails get forwarded to the XMPP account GVXMPP gives you and put that XMPP account into your favorite IM program. All SMS messages thereafter will be pushed to your IM program instantly. The sender of the IM will be an address containing the sender's phone number, and if they're in your Google contacts, their name will appear in the message itself.
If any of the above seems confusing, be sure to check out GVXMPP's help page—they have very detailed, easy to follow instructions on how to get set up. And if you don't see XMPP as an option in your IM program, Jabber should work fine—it's the same protocol with a different name.
GVXMPP
