Ubuntu uses Empathy IM, which is integrated into the messaging menu of the top panel. When you login to Ubuntu, Emapthy does not run until you manually start it. For some this is fine, for me, I wanted it to start on it’s own when I login to Ubuntu otherwise I don’t remember to start it. ;)

Thing is, I don’t want the window to automatically open when I login to Ubuntu, I want it to stay hidden, I want to be online but without having to close the window each time.

If this sounds like a good thing to you, then do the following…

Click the Power Button in the top right corner of the screen, far right of the panel, in the menu that presents itself, click on Startup Applications.

Then click the Add button.

Where it says “Name” put: Empathy

Where it says “Command” put: /usr/bin/empathy –start-hidden

Then click the Add button below.

Logout then log back in and you will see the result. No window pops up, but if you look at the messaging menu, you are online with Empathy.