Google Talk: Nothing New to See Here, Move Along
All's quiet on the Google Talk front, leaving Microsoft and Yahoo to bring in the big guns. Yesterday, Microsoft released its first Windows Live product to go live beyond the beta stage. Windows Live Messenger, aka WLM, which has been in public beta since May 8, is now available as a full release candidate. (As of this writing, the Windows Live Messenger page on at ideas.live.com still labels the product as beta.) The first beta build of WLM was made available in limited release in December 2005. Microsoft says WLM is the first of 20 new Windows Live releases planned over the course of this year. WLM features include free PC-to-PC calls with other WLM users; paid PC-to-PC calls via Verizon; video calling; and new built-in sharing folders. This release of WLM marks the end of MSN Messenger, which is only available to people using operating systems older than Windows XP. "Starting today, we're directing everyone to download Windows Live Messenger instead," wrote a developer on the WLM group blog. "MSN Messenger only lives on for people using operating systems older than Windows XP (on which Windows Live Messenger is not supported.)" Microsoft says that the new version of WLM does not include Yahoo-Microsoft interoperability. That functionality was expected for Q2 2006. Speaking of Yahoo, the company announced yesterday a new beta of Yahoo Messenger with Voice. The big to-do: plug-ins and open APIs. Like AOL a few months prior, Yahoo has announced that it is opening its IM client to third-party developers. But no news from Google Talk these days. The most recent features: customizable photos for friends and Google Talk for BlackBerrys. And, if you missed it, Google Talk works in 13 languages. (Google Watch humbly suggests Google update this particular data point on its Google Talk FAQs page.) |
Comments (14)
what ever happen to IQC? i liked memorizing numbers *ha*
Posted by IM dead | June 20, 2006 1:37 PM
Quote from IM dead: "what ever happen to IQC? i liked memorizing numbers *ha*" Obviously your number recollection skills are better than your ability to remember the product name...... it's ICQ....... (sorry, couldn't resist that comment)! I love the way Microsoft pushes ever forward with their policies that ensure you use their latest product or don't use Microsoft at all.... I'm always expecting this message when I open MSN Messenger.... "A new version of Messenger is available... click here...(alt text: YOU MUST USE WML.... MSN MESSENGER WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN 10 SECONDS)!!!!!" I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we get 'Windows Genuine Advantage'(Microsoft Monopoly Disadvantage, open source is not really a threat, panic, lets punish everyone) type updates for WML which when installed (automatically when you are least expecting it) will cause all other messaging programs to be disabled and you can only use them again if you pledge allegiance to Microsoft by sending 90% of your income every week, leave all of your worldly posessions to Microsoft when you die, and sign an agreement to say that the only reason you might use non-microsoft products is to provide research data to microsoft.. OK, might be going a bit far....... but you get the idea!
Posted by Edge of North | June 20, 2006 1:58 PM
Maybe Windows live will be the beginning of Windows Dead ?
Posted by Paindeer | June 20, 2006 2:05 PM
Die WML Die
Posted by JT | June 20, 2006 2:38 PM
when google talk will support send file cmd?
Posted by CipRyaN | June 20, 2006 8:58 PM
fyi... Google Talk's PC to PC voice calls are 10 times more clearer than MSN or Yahoo messenger. I use Google Talk as a business application to communicate across the world. Using MSN or Yahoo messenger to talk is like using 2 cups and a string compared to G Talk.
Posted by Kapil | June 20, 2006 10:28 PM
FYI Skype is still out there.
Posted by mare | June 21, 2006 12:18 AM
So... why is this article taking a shot at Google? So they haven't been churning out upgrades on this possibly *gasp* complete product. They're still out ahead, and MS and Yahoo are still playing catch-up. This whole time, crazy Google Labs has had time to churn over their next move.
Posted by Ryth | June 21, 2006 1:29 AM
Who's taking a shot? I'm just saying there have been developments in the IM market that may affect Google and those interested in Google. That's all.
Posted by Steve Bryant | June 21, 2006 7:37 AM
Gtalk is far ahead of Yahoo and MSN in terms of voice quality . I live in the United States and I talk to my parents in India everyday using Gtalk . The clarity is amazing and comparable to a land phone
Posted by Mohan | June 22, 2006 12:28 AM
Go Google Go
Posted by KES | June 22, 2006 12:13 PM
Google Talk is only the 10th most popular chat and voice service. But does it matter?
Posted by Google Watch | July 13, 2006 5:07 PM
Google Talk is only the 10th most popular chat and voice service. But does it matter?
Posted by Google Watch | July 13, 2006 5:29 PM
Google Talk is only the 10th most popular chat and voice service. But does it matter?
Posted by Google Watch | July 14, 2006 9:29 AM