I'm On Google Talk Now!

On August 24, Google graced us with the Google Talk system. A system that builds on its already impressive Gmail system. Wonderfully enough, GTalk uses the Jabber, also known as XMPP set of protocols. Jabber is a set of XML-based protocols, and thusly any chat client that supports Jabber can connect to it. All you need is the server (talk.google.com), the port (5222), and a gmail address.

Jabber?

But Jabber is more than just instant messaging, it's a presence protocol. A group could create a presence for itself, and include events and notifications among other collaborative functions. And now, this sort of technology could be built into any of Google's impressive selection of applications. The company that can leverage that, market it, and its associated management tools puts itself in an excellent and profitable position.

While Google's chat client is only available for Windows 2000 or Windows XP, any client on any OS that supports Jabber can connect to the Google Talk network. It's my understanding the GAIM supports this, as do innumerable other clients. Personally, I'm connected via Trillian Pro (the Pro version has a Jabber plugin available, while the free version does not).

And Google Cares Because...

What can this really do for Google? Google is swiftly making itself into an Internet OS as well as the dominant internet portal whether they like it or not. And it's excellently leveraging commodity components, such as PC's, to bring this technology to everyone. They've brought us search capabilities, usenet groups, Froogle, news, email, maps, personalized homepages, translation abilities, and now chat. As well as a number of satical sites such as JustFuckingGoogleIt.com.

It's clearly in Google's interest to bring this functionality to their suite of offerings. However, it's only in Beta, so this isn't the finished product.

But Wait, There's More!

But GTalk is more than just instant messaging. GTalk also offers net telephony. And so far, GTalk has not yet implemented all of the supported functionality of Jabber (such as server-to-server which allows for a decentralized presence network), so we can only expect more from Google.

Coolest of all I've seen, is the incorporation of an Internet classic, Hunt the Wumpus. (Just add "wumpus.game@gmail.com" to your buddy list.)

On the plus side, Google has pledged to make GTalk work with other company's offerings, as well as open the API so that developers can tailor GTalk to work best for them.

Google And World Dominance

All in all, this was a piece missing from Google's strategy. And now that they have it, Google is in an excellent position to become an even bigger player on the Internet. That being said, until more of the Jabber set of protocols have been implemented, this is just another closed network chat and no one needs another chat application cluttering the system tray.

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v1.0 (28 Aug 2005) - Article published.