Google Talk upgrades, but still lags the competition
One year after it launched, Google has finally upgraded its instant messaging client, Google Talk, with some slick file-sharing functionality and voicemail capabilities, which could help increase Google's market share.

The instant messaging wars have gotten hot again, now that the software includes the ability to make VOIP calls to regular phone lines. As Om Malik notes in his comments on the news, this upgrade is "part of the trend of some demographics turning to IM to manage their online communications instead of email." But Google's young service has lagged far behind the competition in signing up users. That's a rare misstep for the search giant, which is usually good at getting the young crowd to try out its products.

Today's upgrade, however, could give Google a boost. An effusive in-house bloggger at Google describes how the file-sharing works: "You can drag and drop one or more files directly onto a chat window. As soon as your friend clicks 'Accept', the bits will start flowing." And it works even better for photos: "When you drop up to 10 photos on Google Talk, smaller previews automatically appear right inside the chat window, so you can chat about them right away."

While file-sharing has long been a feature in AIM and other IM software, Google's version is easeir to use and, importantly, well-integrated with its popular Gmail email service which should drive adoption.
Posted by Oliver Ryan 10:43 AM 1 Comments comment | Add a Comment

Gee, I wish I had those capabilities in the UAE. The telco, Etisalat, just blocked all forms of voice comms other than their extremely expensive phones. If this is progressive thinking, I fail to see where. Think I would not invest in that country. Maybe congress was right keeping them out of our ports.
Posted By Dusty, Abu Dhabi, UAE : 10:07 PM  

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.