Overview
Before the beta version of Google Talk was released, the hype was hot. Was Google going to roll out a killer app and make rival IM clients obsolete? For now at least, the answer is no. Google Talk is as simple as instant messaging gets. The only thing this applet lets you do beyond basic text chatting is wear a headset and speak with buddies by voice. It lacks many of the bells and whistles of other instant messengers, including emoticons, those graphical smiley faces that pepper the chat sessions of popular instant-messaging services such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, and Skype.
Upside
The 900K download of Google Talk takes a few seconds via broadband on your Windows 2000 or higher computer. Launch Google Talk, and a clean, unobtrusive floating window appears, instantly adding names from your Gmail address book into your list of contacts. The integration of Gmail and Google Talk will add value for those who already rely heavily on Google's growing service and tools offerings. This window offers just a few links: Inbox, Setting, Help, and Add Friend. You also get a search box to look up and invite other Gmail users to chat. One major benefit to this early version of Google Talk is not so much what it has but rather what it lacks: Google Talk is currently ad free.
Double-click a buddy's name, and a small chat window opens, showing only two buttons: Email and Call. Click Email to open a Web browser window and go straight to your Gmail account. Put on a VoIP headset and click Call, and you can talk for free right away to any other Google Talk user. During the conversation, a volume indicator lights up, and you can mute the call. We made a call and found the quality to be at least as clear as that of a mobile phone. Thankfully, in our tests of Google Talk, we didn't run into any operating snafus. The online searchable knowledge base is thorough, if you have questions.
Downside
You can use Google Talk only if you use Gmail for e-mail, which until now has been by invitation only (to sign up for Gmail, go to its Web site from a mobile phone). So far, this beta of Google Talk is extremely limited; you can't change your font or background window. And don't even think about viewing the latest news, designing an avatar, linking to friends' blogs, or other goodies that Yahoo Messenger with Voice, MSN Messenger 7.0, and Skype offer. Because Google Talk uses the Jabber open-source standard, it works with five lesser-known IM clients, including Trillian Pro, but you'll have to pay Trillian US$25 for the Pro version. Unfortunately, you can't use Google Talk to chat with people using the popular MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger with Voice, ICQ, or Skype. Mac users are also out of luck, though Google says it intends to include them and Linux fans at a later date. Unlike efforts by IM makers such as Yahoo to filter out uninvited messages from strangers, Google's advice for receiving spam instant messages is simply, "Ignore them." Google Talk also lacks the conference calling and encryption-based security features offered through Skype.
Outlook
Pitted against a deluxe communications suite such as Yahoo Messenger with Voice, the Google Talk beta is the discount motel room of instant messaging. Still, Google will likely add more features and integrate Google Talk into other products. You can already embed this IM client into the new Google Desktop 2.0 sidebar. Expect all kinds of rumors about Google's next steps. There's already speculation that Google will combine its photo-swapping program Picasa and its Hello chatting tool. Or will Google buy Meetro, a social-networking IM app, so that Google Talk will be able to detect the presence of your buddies -- maybe even mapping them via Google Maps? Mere rumours for now. To date, Google Talk might be handy for Gmail users, but other IM services with VoIP, especially Yahoo Messenger with Voice and Skype have a lot more to offer.
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clamwave
01/03/2007, 02:31 PM
rating
10/10
Great call quality, yes Google talk has very little features, but so does my home phone. It does what it says (talk) and it does it better than well.
Pros: call quality, no ads, simple interface
Cons: lack of options
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15/08/2006, 03:33 PM
rating
10/10
World Number one Gmail
10/10
Pros: 10/10
Cons: 10/10
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hennievandyk
31/08/2005, 06:38 PM
very Beta very basic but good foundation to start from
As a Senior (and webmaster) it's difficult to encourage Seniors in our Bonzer writer's Group to download the and 'any of this type' program.
Tried several and this program seems to have potential. Main thing missing is 'Conference talk'
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