For the release of Kubuntu 12.10 we are thinking about switching to a different instant messaging framework named Telepathy.
With KDE Telepathy 0.4 we now have a viable testing candiate for you to try on your existing 12.04 installation.
To update or install KDE Telepathy, use the Software Repository Guide to add the following repository to your software sources list:
ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
We would greatly appreciate feedback. You can either post over in the kubuntuforums thread, send a mail to our mailing lists kubuntu-users or kubuntu-devel as well as stop by for a chat on our IRC channel. The Community page has all the details.