There is an intense 24-hour news cycle following any major product release, and I think we can expect this blog to
be weighted by Google Talk today. The review is
here.
Google Talk's open platform supports access by clients other than Google's. Google has put up a
chart specifying what goes with what. [via
InsideGoogle] And
here is a thorough FAQ about Google Talk's development
platform.
On the subject of Google's attempt to lure AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! to open compatibility, after the first rush of
excitement, the prospects seem blearily grim now, in the morning after. I don't believe it's merely a publicity stunt.
But Google must stake its hope on the other providers' fear that Google Talk will pull away their users. Comparing
feature sets (never mind simple inertia), that possibility seems preposterous for now. If not for the Google brand, the
extremely lightweight Google Talk wouldn't appear on anybody's radar, much less drive fear into the heart of the IM
triumverate.
In response to some comments: Google Talk does indeed embed in Sidebar. Do this:
-
Install Google Talk.
-
Close Sidebar. (Actually close it, don't just minimize it.)
-
Wait 15 seconds and open Sidebar.
-
Select Add/Remove Panels from the Sidebar menu.
-
Select Google Talk, which now appears on the list.
1. Double clicking the Google Talk title bar docks it to the Sidebar for me.
Posted at 4:42AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Ryan