Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Google Instant Messaging


Google Inc. is set to introduce its own instant messaging system, the Los Angeles Times reported 25th August. The move marks the Web search leader's expansion into text and also voice communications.

Citing unnamed sources "familiar with the service," the newspaper said that Google's instant messaging program would be called Google Talk and could be launched as early as tomorrow. Google Talk goes beyond text-based instant messaging, using a computer keyboard to let users hold voice conversations with other computer users, the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

A Google spokeswoman declined to comment on the company's plans.

If confirmed, the combined computer text and voice-calling service would put Google in competition with a similar service pioneered by Skype, which has attracted tens of millions of users, especially in Europe.

Separately, independent journalist Om Malik wrote in his blog about technical clues that suggest that Google is preparing to run an instant messaging service based on the open-source system Jabber. That would allow Google instant messaging users to connect with established IM systems that also work with Jabber, including America Online Inc.'s ICQ and Apple Computer Inc.'s iChat, Malik said.

"This is the worst possible news for someone like Skype, because now they will be up against not two but three giants who want to offer a pale-version of Skype," he wrote.


Posted by: Jethro | 1:03 PM |