Cannot set status in Unity messaging menu with Empathy chat account

[Dave Vree]

As a user of skype and pidgin I would like those applications to be able to read my status from the Unity messaging indicator (not sure if that is the right term). Through skype-wrapper and other tools I can do this. However, unless the following conditions are met, I am unable to select a status in the menu -- it always selects "Offline".

1) Empathy must be installed (I don't use it, so this was a drag)
2) Empathy must have at least one non-IRC telepathy account enabled (this is also a bummer, but I didn't have one previously)

I think that users should be able to select their "status" at any time regardless of what Unity thinks is installed or configured as their could be many more application that can drive and be driven from that status.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: unity 5.10.0-0ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia wl
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,place,session,compiztoolbox,vpswitch,imgpng,move,regex,grid,resize,gnomecompat,wall,snap,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,fade,expo,scale,workarounds,ezoom,unityshell]
Date: Fri May 4 10:03:58 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-03-30 (34 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.