Windows A to Z!- Google Talk

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August 24, 2005

It's not a surprise that Google has put its foot into the instant messenger side of the Internet. Over the past few months and years we've seen Google come a long way. Their release of Google Gmail was a huge plus for free email users because of the amazing 2GB storage capacity. Google also has maps, shopping information, news, desktop search, and now IM and VoIP.

Starting today, Gmail beta users can download and install Google Talk beta. Which is Google's new instant messenger (IM) and voice over IP client. According to Georges Harik, Google's Director of Product Management, "millions of users" and all Gmail members will find their existing contact lists instantly ported to the new instant messaging client.

The Google Talk beta interface is very clean and slim. It isn't like AOL's Instant Messenger interface that's bloated with features and advertisements. The interface has no ads, stock ticker, news info,
weather info, even links to Google services. Google Talk beta does not include emoticons (unlike AOL and MSN Messenger), video or file transfer, it runs and installs very nicely and quickly.

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Once you open Google Talk beta for the first time, you can search your Gmail contact list to find, invite, or add people to your buddy list. One of the downsides to Google Talk beta is while it knows your contact list, it does not tell you their online status and if they even have the Google Talk application installed.

Lots of controls and settings can be found in the settings box. Here you can add people to your blocked list so they will not be able to contact you via Google Talk beta. You can also choose if you want Google Talk beta to launch at Windows startup or not, manage notifications (such as new Gmail email), and save your recent chat history.

Google is working on inviting more people to join Gmail and therefore making more people available to chat to using Google Talk beta. Starting today, anyone in the U.S. who has a phone with SMS text capabilities can visit the Gmail site, enter their phone number, and receive a text invite and code from Google for a Gmail account. While this should increase Gmail membership, some still question why Gmail isn't simply an open service like Hotmail. Google's Harik promises that this is to protect the end user, "We've been slowly rolling it out to get more and more people. We want to maintain this as a system where people can't do odd things like send out thousands of spam mails or take up lots of names."

If you are a Google Gmail beta user, you can download Google Talk beta for free at http://talk.google.com. If you are not a Gmail user and would like to become one/find more information about it, visit the Gmail Web site.