Google Launches Instant Messenging Client

August 24th, 2005

Google TalkAs rumoured Google has launched an IM rival to MSN and AOL in the form of Google Talk, a tool that not only allows instant messenging, but also online voice calls.

Google Talk stops short of being a direct competitor to Skype and other VoIP firms as you can only make calls via the Google Talk client and not to landlines or mobile phones.

Google Talk is based on open standards for IM and Google claim they will make the source code available so it can be adapted and included within other software packages.

So far the client only runs on Windows XP, but Google allows other Jabber/XMPP based IM clients to connect to Google Talk.

To download a beta version of the software go to http://www.google.com/talk. You’ll need a Gmail account to log on, but you’ll be able to access your Gmail inbox from within Google Talk and send e-mail. You will also be alerted about new messages received in your Gmail account.

Entry Filed under: Online Life

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Trackback this post  |  Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed


Calendar

August 2005
M T W T F S S
« Jul   Sep »
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031