Google Talk
The king of Internet search technology now also seeks to become the Internet phone champion? Not many have predicted this, until Google Inc. quietly released their beta version of GoogleTalk in August 2005.
The program is closely integrated with Gmail and you can use it instantly if you’re already a Gmail account user. If you’re not, and you don’t want a Gmail account, you can still request for an SMS verification code to use Google Talk.
According to BBC News, “At first glance, a combined instant messaging/net phone system is a strange service to launch mainly because Google’s rivals are so far ahead in terms of users and experience.
According to figures gathered by ComScore Media Metrix, America Online has more than 40 million users on its AIM and ICQ instant messaging networks. Yahoo has 20 million users and MSN Messenger has 14 million. Some of these services have been operating for more than a decade.
On net telephony, too, Google has a mountain to climb. The biggest net telephone (or voice over IP) service is run by Skype which currently claims to have 51 million users..
Google may have a leading share of the search market but it is a minnow when it comes to these two technologies.”
Apparently, there’s a reason for this late entry by Google. While most other PC-to-PC applications enable you to only call within their own network, Google plans to use Jabber technology to enable calling over different networks.
For now however, you can get a Jabber ID and use it for Google Talk and a host of other less popular pc-to-pc VoIP applications. You can get full details on this at gtalkprofile.com. Other major IM’s like MSN and Yahoo Messenger don’t support this protocol currently but who knows, maybe in the future a Skype or AOL user can call a Google Talk user for free…
Currently the beta release of GoogleTalk looks very simple and has some limitations:
- Only Windows version is available.
- Lacks tons of other feaures offered by other IM (Instant Messaging) services such as emoticons and file transfers
- No way to call to or from traditional telephone networks.
- No web cam or video component
How Does Google Talk Work?
The Google Talk phone is based on a software application that you can download and install on any Windows or Mac based PC. Other than a micro- phone and headphones, it has no need for any other hardware. Google Talk itself looks like any other instant messaging (IM) service like AOL Messenger or Yahoo Messenger, exept that it has a softphone, which looks like the image here.
As a matter of fact, it is similar to perhaps the more popular Internet phone application, Skype. Like Skype, Google Talk is a form of PC-to-PC VoIP which means that you’ll use your PC or laptop (notebook) which has an Internet connection to call another person who is also running a Google Talk softphone application for free.
To use Google Talk optimally you’ll need:
- A PC or laptop running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux.
- Broadband internet connection
- Headsets or a pair of headphone and microphone
Other Info Related to Google Talk
Skype VoIP Internet Phone
Read about Google Talk’s main competitor, Skype, with over 50 million users worldwide.
VoIP Headsets for Google Talk
Get a new headset and enjoy better experience in Internet telephony.
Phone Adapter for Google Talk and Skype
Use a phone adapter meant to use a real phone while making Skype or GoogleTalk calls.
Broadband Search Tool
No broadband or unhappy with your current one? Use our tool to find the perfect broadband solution.
Internet Telephony Basics
Learn about internet telephony in general.
VoIP Service Providers List
If you don’t want to use a PC to make internet phone calls, then see this list of great Phone-to-Phone services.
