If you ’re looking for an soft , inexpensive way to send instant messages , Google Talk may be right for you . While it does n’t offer as many feature as AOL Instant Messenger , Yahoo Messenger or Microsoft Windows Live Messenger , Google Talk electronic messaging is clear with ads and free to use .
Once you download Google Talk , you ’re ready for crying electronic messaging from your information processing system or through a web internet browser , although only with other Google Talk or Gmail exploiter .
Google Talk is one of the new competitor for the IM marketplace . It was launch in 2005 , followingAIMin 1997 and MSN Messenger ( nowWindows Live Messenger ) andYahoo Messengerin 1999 . So far , it lags far behind those well - known divine service in drug user . In January 2008 , for example , Windows Live Messenger had 235 million unique visits , while Google Talk had fewer than 5 million [ source : comScore ] .
But Google Talk has its fans among user who require a aboveboard IMing service . And although Google Talk started thin , it observe adding features like file transmission through schmooze window , PC - to - personal computer voice call and voice ring armour , emoticon , Google Talk on your Google dwelling page , and chatback for your blog [ source : CNet ] .
What are some of the features of Google Talk ? How do you habituate it ? And , what ’s Google Talk Gadget ? allow ’s start with the basics .
Google Talk Basics
Using Google Talk is easy . There are two ways to get started : record and download Google Talk , if you have a PC , or link on the vane by launching Google Talk Gadget . Either elbow room , you ’re ready to start inst electronic messaging . And that ’s not hard to do , either .
We ’ll verbalize more about Google Talk Gadget on the next page , but here ’s how to download Google Talk messaging :
[ source : Google Talk Help Center ]
Google Talk wo n’t give you admittance to RSS ( Really Simple Syndication ) feeds and 200 hack - ins , like Yahoo Messenger , or rent you have a unrecorded video confabulation , like Windows Live Messenger . But you ’ll still be able-bodied to do plenty with Google Talk besides just jaw . Here are more of its feature film :
Google Talk via download , called Google Talk Client , offers a lot more features , including bots to translate content between English and 13 other languages . For more about the bots and other features , or for avail , check theGoogle Talk Clientsection of Google ’s Help Center .
If you ’re a Mac user or require to get at your Google Talk account from somewhere other than your own computer , you call for Google Talk Gadget . Let ’s look at what it can do next .
Google Talk Gadget
you may access Google Talk and do instant electronic messaging from a Mac or any other computer with Internet access – even your BlackBerry – with Web - based Google Talk Gadget . While this diligence offers many of the feature film of Google Talk messaging , it has some merriment feature film of its own . Because there ’s no download , you’re able to commence chat immediately after you register for a Google report or embed the gadget in your personal Google page or entanglement site .
With Google Talk Gadget , you could practice your friend list and IM with your Google Talk and Gmail physical contact , as you could with Google Talk Client . You also can receive offline messages and save a New World chat account if you also have Gmail . Unlike the downloadable variant , you also can :
However , while Google is enhancing Google Talk Gadget , it presently does n’t declare oneself these features of Google Talk Client :
To get begin with Google Talk Gadget , you need to first register as a Google substance abuser with a substance abuser name and password . Once you have that , you may add the Google Talk Gadget to your iGoogle home page or to your Web site or blog .
notice that you ’ll need the a la mode free translation of Flash installed in your web internet browser and , if you ’re using a Mac , you call for to habituate the Firefox web internet browser alternatively of Safari . To download Flash for Mac , go toAdobe . To download Firefox for Mac , go toMozilla Firefox .
To sum the Google Talk Gadget to your Web web site , you need to glue a air of code into your site ’s hypertext mark-up language . For instructions and the codification , go toGoogle Support .
Google Talk for BlackBerry lets you total IM lineament to your wandering telephone . you could e - get off and play games while you chew the fat .
There ’s more to Google Talk Gadget , and unexampled features are constantly being added . For more about other lineament or for help , check theGoogle Talk Gadgetsection of Google ’s Help Center .
Google Talk has plenty to offer , but it ’s not without some problems . Keep reading to learn about them and some potential solutions .
Problems with Google Talk
Google Talk offers some great features , but it has some problems and limitations , too . For instance , Google Talk messaging can only be done with other Google Talk and Gmail users . Beyond that , you have to download Google Talk and also have a Gmail accounting to get features such as chew the fat story and offline Old World chat .
Even then , available features are more limited than those offer by Yahoo Messenger and other instantaneous messaging service . And Google Talk feature are more limited on the Web - base Google Talk Gadget , which is the only version available to Mac and mobile users .
Google Talk is no different from provider like Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger in keeping IMing among its register users . ( Although Yahoo and Windows drug user can now IM with each other . ) And Google Talk offers many of the same features as AIM , Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger .
Because Google Talk is New than these services , Google has had less sentence to expand its features . But something new is being added all the time . For instance , you could now show your impinging the euphony you ’re listening to at that moment . Any time your music player begin a new song the track name and artist information are updated . And you’re able to chequer out what Google Talk users are mind to around the world .
With Google Talk Gadget , you also can expend your Webcam to take a picture of yourself and then carry it at the top of your friends list . Your Friend will see the picture as your Google Talk picture in their contacts tilt .
One of the best place to see about new features is atGoogle Talkabout , a blog where Google developers share the in vogue news about Google Talk . you’re able to give your feedback while you ’re there , or essay answers from other user or join in with theGoogle Talk Helpdiscussion group .
We ’ve yield you information here about Google Talk and its features , but Google Talk is continuously evolving . For mass more information about GoogleTalk and link topic , check out the links on the next pageboy .
