Buzz
Google Talk provides a straightforward, affordable solution for sending real-time messages.
© LWA/Stone/Getty ImagesIf you're searching for a simple, budget-friendly method to send real-time messages, Google Talk might be the perfect choice. Although it lacks some features found in AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, or Microsoft Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk's messaging system is free of ads and easy to use.
After you install Google Talk, you'll be ready for real-time messaging from your computer or directly through a browser, though only with other Google Talk or Gmail users.
Google Talk is a relatively new player in the instant messaging (IM) scene. It was launched in 2005, following AIM in 1997, MSN Messenger (now Windows Live Messenger), and Yahoo Messenger in 1999. Despite its late entry, it still trails behind these established services in terms of users. For instance, in January 2008, Windows Live Messenger had 235 million unique visitors, while Google Talk had fewer than 5 million [source: comScore].
Nevertheless, Google Talk has earned a loyal following among users who appreciate its simplicity. Although it started out basic, Google Talk continues to evolve with new features like file sharing via chat, PC-to-PC voice calls, voicemail, emoticons, integration with your Google homepage, and chatback for blogs [source: CNet].
What are the key features of Google Talk? How do you get started with it? And what exactly is the Google Talk Gadget? Let’s explore the fundamentals.
E-mail is becoming too slow for teens. Instant messaging has become the preferred way to communicate. According to a 2007 global survey of 58,486 teens in 31 countries, nearly 76% of teens use IM to stay in touch with their friends, making it the most popular communication method among teens in many nations. E-mail is reserved for school, work, and family correspondence, rather than for social interaction.
[source: 2008 Global Habbo Youth Survey]
Google Talk Fundamentals
Google Talk allows users to make voice calls from PC to PC.
© Jack Hollingsworth/Photodisc/Getty ImagesGetting started with Google Talk is simple. You can either register and download the software if you're on a PC, or you can access it via the Web using Google Talk Gadget. Either method will set you up for instant messaging, which is also a breeze to use.
We’ll dive deeper into Google Talk Gadget on the next page, but here’s how you can download Google Talk for messaging:
- Visit Google Talk and click on the "Download Google Talk" button.
- Create a Google account with a username and password.
- Follow the instructions to download the software. (Google Talk will launch automatically with your Windows programs.)
- Sign in, invite friends to chat, and start messaging. If you use Gmail, your contacts will be automatically added to your Google Talk Friends list. You can start chatting with them as soon as they install Google Talk, and you can invite more friends to join you.
[source: Google Talk Help Center]
Google Talk doesn't offer access to RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds or 200 plug-ins like Yahoo Messenger, nor does it allow live video chatting like Windows Live Messenger. However, there's still plenty you can do with Google Talk beyond just chatting. Here are some of its other features:
- Transfer unlimited files to your contacts. These can include Word documents, spreadsheets, photos, music, videos, and more – without restrictions on file type, size, or bandwidth. Google Talk shows estimated completion times for longer downloads. You can continue chatting while a file is being downloaded, but keep in mind that larger files may result in higher Internet usage costs.
- Make free PC-to-PC voice calls to anyone who has Google Talk and is online. Keep in mind that you’ll need an Internet connection, a microphone, and speakers. While the calls are free, your Internet service provider may charge for the time spent using the Internet. To make a call, locate the person on your friends list, click the phone icon next to their name, wait for them to answer, and start the conversation.
- Leave and receive voice mail messages from friends who are offline. If someone doesn’t answer your call, you’ll be directed to voicemail, where you can leave a message of up to 10 minutes. The voicemail is sent to their email as an MP3 file titled "Voicemail from …". Your contact can either download it or simply click "Play" in Gmail. You can also use the "Send Voicemail" feature in the friends list to send a voice message without making a call.
- Receive desktop notifications for new Gmail messages. A notification window and a snippet of the new message will pop up above the Google Talk icon every time someone sends you a message.
Google Talk, when downloaded as the Google Talk Client, offers even more features, including bots that translate messages between English and 13 other languages. For more details on the bots and other features, or for assistance, visit the Google Talk Client section in Google's Help Center.
For Mac users or anyone wanting to access their Google Talk account from a device other than their own computer, Google Talk Gadget is required. Let’s explore what it can do next.
Google Talk Gadget
With Google Talk, you can easily cut and paste videos from popular platforms like YouTube.
© Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty ImagesGoogle Talk can be accessed from any computer with internet access, including Macs or even BlackBerrys, through the Web-based Google Talk Gadget. While this version offers most of the same features as Google Talk messaging, it also includes some additional fun features. Since there's no need to download anything, you can begin chatting as soon as you sign up for a Google account, or you can embed the gadget on your personal Google page or website.
With Google Talk Gadget, you can still use your friends list and send instant messages to your Google Talk and Gmail contacts, just like you can with the Google Talk Client. You’ll also be able to receive offline messages and store chat histories if you have a Gmail account. Unlike the downloadable version, this one also offers the following additional features:
- Invite multiple people to join a group chat.
- Share video and slideshow URLs from platforms like YouTube, Google Video, Picasa Web Albums, and Flickr by pasting them directly into your chats, where they can be viewed within the chat window.
- Add Google Talk to your customized iGoogle home page.
- Embed the Google Talk Gadget on your personal website or blog to enable chat functionality.
- Chat in any of 22 available languages or dialects.
Although Google is actively improving the Google Talk Gadget, it currently lacks these features available in the Google Talk Client:
- File transfers
- Voice mail
- Voice calls (unless running Google Talk Client simultaneously)
- Sending offline messages
- Notifications for new chats, friends signing on, or new Gmail messages
To begin using Google Talk Gadget, you must first sign up as a Google user, creating a username and password. After that, you can add the Google Talk Gadget to your iGoogle home page or embed it on your website or blog.
Please note that you'll need to have the latest version of Flash installed in your browser. If you're using a Mac, be sure to use Firefox instead of Safari. To download Flash for Mac, visit Adobe. For Firefox, go to Mozilla Firefox.
To integrate the Google Talk Gadget into your website, simply paste a line of code into the HTML of your site. For detailed instructions and the required code, visit Google Support.
Google Talk for BlackBerry allows you to add instant messaging features to your mobile device, so you can chat while also sending emails or playing games.
Google Talk Gadget has a lot more to offer, with new features being added regularly. For more information on additional features or assistance, check out the Google Talk Gadget section in Google's Help Center.
Google Talk offers a wide range of features, but it does have some issues. Keep reading to learn about these problems and potential solutions.
Problems with Google Talk
With Google Talk, users can take a photo of themselves using a Webcam and display it on their contact list.
© Malek Chaman/Photographer's Choice/Getty ImagesGoogle Talk provides many excellent features, but it also comes with some limitations. For example, you can only message other Google Talk and Gmail users. In addition, you need to download Google Talk and have a Gmail account to access features like chat history and offline chats.
Even with all these features, Google Talk is still more limited than services like Yahoo Messenger and other instant messaging platforms. The Web-based Google Talk Gadget, which is the only version accessible to Mac and mobile users, has even fewer features.
Google Talk is similar to other messaging services like Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger in that it restricts instant messaging to registered users only. (Though, Yahoo and Windows Live users can now message each other.) Google Talk also provides many of the same features as AIM, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger.
As a newer service compared to others, Google Talk has had less time to add features. However, new features are continually being introduced. For example, you can now share the music you're listening to with your contacts. Whenever a new song starts in your music player, the track name and artist information automatically update. Plus, you can see what Google Talk users around the world are listening to.
With Google Talk Gadget, you can also use your Webcam to take a photo of yourself and set it as your profile picture at the top of your contact list. Your friends will see this image as your Google Talk picture in their contact lists.
A great resource for learning about new features is Google Talkabout, a blog where Google developers post updates on the latest news regarding Google Talk. You can provide feedback, find answers from other users, or join the discussion group at Google Talk Help.
