Google has announced that users of their GMail email and chatting service will soon have the option to chat and converse with friends via a new video chatting service which will take on Skype and other video conferencing tools head on as Google moves to further define itself as an all rounded media company and not just a search engine.
Here’s a video explanation of the service from Serge of Google :
Gmail users who install the GMail Video Plugin can now pull up an expandable video screen and communicate with other GMail users who have webcams. No word yet from Google on whether the option will be available for GTalk users.
GTalk is the Google messenger tool which already offers crisp VOIP audio services for its users and archives chats in the GMail interface. Will Google also be archiving video sessions in its index?
Back in 2005 we covered that Festoon had launched a Video Plug-in for GTalk, funny that its taken the company 3 years to get their own service going. Well, better late than never :) I’m sure many Googlers and Gmail users will be making good use of the new GMail Video Chat.
Comments
6 responses so far ↓
Shane Sheibani on Nov 12, 2008 at 4:18 am
I have seen a demonstration of this feature, and it is the future. VERY COOL.
TomL on Nov 12, 2008 at 7:51 am
Sounds cool.Will this “replace” the MSN messenger?
Mursaleem Ahmad on Nov 13, 2008 at 3:00 am
still m nt hapy th kind of service thy r offring …
it shd be avilabl on th gatlk
Amit on Nov 13, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Very cool feature there, lot of stuff happening with Gmail right now.
Colin on Nov 20, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Thinking that this is the beginnings of google turning gmail into the main interface for their version of “cloud computing”. can currently hook in gcal & gdocs, combined w/ chat and mail…what’s next?
Conferencing Australia on Dec 30, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I have installed the google video addon but I haven’t really give it a try. Is it faster than skype and better in terms of voice and video quality?
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