Google Talk

Since I’m Usually the Last to Know, Pile on Quick

Google has now launched the Google Talk service, which I have now researched with the help of some of my associates, including pergamon, Pedant, and The Right Reverend Kwin Alexander. Our conclusion: This is pretty cool, no matter who you are.

For Windows-Only Users, who don’t know what XMPP is:
GTalk is a good way to keep your GMail contacts at hand, to “sense” their online presence, and to carry on text and voice chat in real-time. Add it to your list of chat clients — it’s not very obtrusive at all, and you’re likely to enjoy it.

For Multi-Platform Users, and those who already get their XMPP on:
GTalk is running on what is basically just a Jabber server at gmail.com. You can talk to it with a number of other clients that support the Jabber/XMPP protocol. I fully expect that I will have a “gtalk” account in the Psi roster of my Linux comms box. No voice chat (yet) with these other clients, (but those of us who have been using Jabber for a while are used to wading in the short end of the extended feature pool when it comes to cross-network communication, and knew the risks when we put on the uniforms).

For Others, who don’t use Google services or chat clients:
The secret is to keep rubbing those sticks together, guys!

If anyone needs an invite, ask me or anyone else. Does any GMail user have less than 40 sitting around anymore? The voice and text chat are effortless, and GMail is just worth having to begin with.