Home Phone and Internet $60/mo
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Google's Web site late Tuesday provided a link to download Google Talk and stated that the software "enables you to call or send instant messages to your friends for free-?anytime, anywhere in the world." Google's messaging program is linked to the company's Web-based e-mail program, Gmail, and both are in a beta, or test, phase.
While Google Talk was expected, some industry observers questioned what innovation Google could add to lure loyal users and their millions of buddies away from established instant-messaging applications.
One advantage to Google Talk could be its ability to connect with users of competing services. The service is based on the Jabber open-source standard, which allows consumers to connect with other messaging systems that work with Jabber, such as Apple Computer's iChat, GAIM, Adium, Trillian Pro and Psi.
Google Talk currently works only on Windows, according to Google's Web site. Users need a microphone and a speaker to take advantage of the voice capabilities.
The company's moves are a further sign of its expansive ambitions in the face of growing competition from rivals Yahoo, AOL and MSN. The launch comes one day after Google rolled out a beta version of its free desktop software, Desktop 2, that includes a personalized toolbar dubbed "Sidebar" for accessing e-mail, stock quotes and news, as well as a scratch pad for taking notes and tools for searching the desktop and Microsoft Outlook in-box.
The company, which last week announced plans to raise $4 billion in a secondary stock sale, already offers a wide variety of services beyond Web search, including Gmail, news, alerts, the Froogle shopping search engine, the Blogger service for posting blogs, desktop search, the Picasa photo-sharing software, Google Maps and Google Earth. The company has reportedly been looking into buying up unused fiber optic and radio spectrum, as well as buying wireless companies such as Android.
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It makes sense for Google to come up with additional ways to attract users and keep them on the Google Web site longer, said Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Watch.
"In the end, I think they have to do it because in reality they are a portal, a big gateway people use to access the Web, and people seem to expect certain things from these gateways and one of them is instant messaging," he said.
But Google faces an uphill battle to win converts from the leaders in instant messaging--AOL's AIM, Yahoo Messenger and Microsoft's MSN Messenger--whose members will no doubt be resistant to switch their buddy lists to a new IM service, Sullivan said.
Google Talk users can't use the program to talk with users of AIM, MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger. An IM service is only useful if a user has other people to communicate with.
After playing with Google Talk, Sullivan gave it strong marks for sound quality but said it lacked video chat, which Yahoo offers, and
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Google a/c is like MS passport for which any email a/c would suffice.
Visit https://www.google.com/accounts/
Just send me some email at thedreaming@gmail.com
communications capability, leaves IM as just something to keep the
teeny boppers busy.
You want to tell me something? Call me.........
And if you don't have my phone number, or I don't answer, there's
a message in there somewhere...........
Google a/c is like MS passport for which any email a/c would suffice.
Visit https://www.google.com/accounts/
Just send me some email at thedreaming@gmail.com
communications capability, leaves IM as just something to keep the
teeny boppers busy.
You want to tell me something? Call me.........
And if you don't have my phone number, or I don't answer, there's
a message in there somewhere...........
Google a/c is like MS passport for which any email a/c would suffice.
Visit https://www.google.com/accounts/
Just send me some email at thedreaming@gmail.com
communications capability, leaves IM as just something to keep the
teeny boppers busy.
You want to tell me something? Call me.........
And if you don't have my phone number, or I don't answer, there's
a message in there somewhere...........
Most average Internet users don't care much about the Google brand. They don't see Google as the almighty-innovative-and-cool web company that geeks like to love religiously.
Case in point, I have sent GMail invitations to members of my family (average net users). They bothered to register and create an account but did NOT care enough to actually use that GMail account regularly, as their primary email account. I have lots of friends who do not use GMail. Those that do are "experienced" web users and they work in the computer/software-related field.
I predict the same thing will happen to this goodle IM thing. Most people will keep using their cute MSN Messenger and Yahoo! IM and will not care to switch.
Most average Internet users don't care much about the Google brand. They don't see Google as the almighty-innovative-and-cool web company that geeks like to love religiously.
Case in point, I have sent GMail invitations to members of my family (average net users). They bothered to register and create an account but did NOT care enough to actually use that GMail account regularly, as their primary email account. I have lots of friends who do not use GMail. Those that do are "experienced" web users and they work in the computer/software-related field.
I predict the same thing will happen to this goodle IM thing. Most people will keep using their cute MSN Messenger and Yahoo! IM and will not care to switch.
Most average Internet users don't care much about the Google brand. They don't see Google as the almighty-innovative-and-cool web company that geeks like to love religiously.
Case in point, I have sent GMail invitations to members of my family (average net users). They bothered to register and create an account but did NOT care enough to actually use that GMail account regularly, as their primary email account. I have lots of friends who do not use GMail. Those that do are "experienced" web users and they work in the computer/software-related field.
I predict the same thing will happen to this goodle IM thing. Most people will keep using their cute MSN Messenger and Yahoo! IM and will not care to switch.
The type of people that support Google are very anti-spyware so I could see why something like that could be catastrophic to their public image especially when reported by a source which is normally as reputable as CNET.
I understand why they are not talking to you, that was a pretty big mistake.
The type of people that support Google are very anti-spyware so I could see why something like that could be catastrophic to their public image especially when reported by a source which is normally as reputable as CNET.
I understand why they are not talking to you, that was a pretty big mistake.
The type of people that support Google are very anti-spyware so I could see why something like that could be catastrophic to their public image especially when reported by a source which is normally as reputable as CNET.
I understand why they are not talking to you, that was a pretty big mistake.
Source here:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050824/ap_on_hi_te/google_messaging
Source here:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050824/ap_on_hi_te/google_messaging
Source here:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050824/ap_on_hi_te/google_messaging
AIM Today is entirely worthless, and while it can be turned off, any time you update the program, it ever-so-casually "forgets" that you didn't want that darn window popping up.
If the Google IM doesn't have ads, I would consider switching.
AIM Today is entirely worthless, and while it can be turned off, any time you update the program, it ever-so-casually "forgets" that you didn't want that darn window popping up.
If the Google IM doesn't have ads, I would consider switching.
AIM Today is entirely worthless, and while it can be turned off, any time you update the program, it ever-so-casually "forgets" that you didn't want that darn window popping up.
If the Google IM doesn't have ads, I would consider switching.
as the original MSN client. I also use MSN a lot
but I always use other more clean clients. But I
agree that they will have to improve sound and
video communications to get more users. Well if
they work hard this could become the best IM
client.
as the original MSN client. I also use MSN a lot
but I always use other more clean clients. But I
agree that they will have to improve sound and
video communications to get more users. Well if
they work hard this could become the best IM
client.
as the original MSN client. I also use MSN a lot
but I always use other more clean clients. But I
agree that they will have to improve sound and
video communications to get more users. Well if
they work hard this could become the best IM
client.
open and free standard XMPP better known as
Jabber. So you can use any Jabber client you
want and you can use any Jabber server you want.
A list of some public ones is here:
http://www.jabber.org/network/
That's what is so nice about this. No one will
force you to use some client, no one will force
you to use some server and no one is going to
block connecting to server if they don't like
you client of choice. It is like e-mail. Use
whatever you like.
- You don't need GMail
-
by JLP
August 24, 2005 7:05 AM PDT
- You don't need GMail to use this. It is based on
-
Reply to this comment
-
See all 93 Comments >>open and free standard XMPP better known as
Jabber. So you can use any Jabber client you
want and you can use any Jabber server you want.
A list of some public ones is here:
http://www.jabber.org/network/
That's what is so nice about this. No one will
force you to use some client, no one will force
you to use some server and no one is going to
block connecting to server if they don't like
you client of choice. It is like e-mail. Use
whatever you like.