Since I haven’t read through my feeds yet, I hadn’t heard about this one until today. I’m sure that people like Tim and Tom and Albert posted about it a week ago, but it’s news to me!

Google has released its much anticipated IM program Google Talk which combines Instant Messaging with Skype-like real time audio conversations. Actually, I guess it’s closer to iChat’s voice chat than Skype, since Skype can actually reach ‘normal’ phones as well has the ability to retain voicemails and such. Regardless, it’s one more step toward Google taking over the world.

I do like the integration it has with your address book in GMail and the ability to block anyone not in your address book. Way to build in a solution to IM Spam. If they build a web based client for it (something without a required download) then I’ll be really impressed. Either way, it does work with iChat which is a bonus in my book since I’m spending a lot of time on Windows machines lately. Anyway, if you want to drop me a line, feel free to send one on to sdembo @t gmail d0t c0m.

Do I really need a new IM client? Well, probably not. But something about Google really appeals to me. Even though they don’t do a lot of marketing (when was the last time you saw a Google commercial or billboard?) they really hit me strongly and I feel like I want to support any product they come out with. They’re definitely doing something right.

• Quechup. Or why I spammed 1758 people this weekend.
• DeathMatch: GMail vs. Thunderbird
• Google Reverse Lookup?
• An official EduCaster podcatcher?
• Open Book Meme

Ewan McIntosh
8/30/2005

You don’t need a new IM client – on a Mac you are encouraged to go through an existing IM client to place your Google Talk calls.

wakemp
8/31/2005

Signed up for Google Talk – not overly impressed. With the established base in MSN and AIM I don’t have alot of contacts for text chat in Google. Now when the index and archive you chats so you can search them – that would be killer.

On the voice front, I also am really fragmented Vonage as a home phone plus iChat, Skype and Gizmo to talk to people.

On the PC side I have gone to Trillian as a client so I can be connected to all of the text chats from one place.

Moral of the story – “Standards – there’s so many to chose from”

- Bill

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website