| Google Talk opens up to GAIM, other IM services |
Jan. 18, 2006
Google has announced it has opened up its new instant messaging service, Google Talk, to all other IM networks that utilize the XMPP protocol, which originally was developed for Jabber. This enables Google users to communicate directly with users of Linux IM clients GAIM and Psi, Apple's iChat, Jabber, Gizmo Project, Tiscali, Netease, Chikka, MediaRing, and several others.
Any IM provider using XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) is now free to connect to Google Talk free of charge by following the specifications. Google eventually plans to add support for SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), which would enable cross-network calling, the company said.
Tom Hsieh, EarthLink's director of voice products and engineering, told DesktopLinux.com that "we believe this is an important first step toward a broader industry effort aimed at open communications among instant-message and voice providers."
Earthlink's Vling voice service is already interoperable with all open-SIP networks.
"We're pleased that Google Talk will interoperate with EarthLink's Vling, and we hope this action encourages other providers to open their messaging systems and allow more people to take advantage of advanced Internet communication tools," said Hsieh.
What has been the reaction to this from the top three commercial IM companies -- AOL, MSN, and Yahoo?
"We've approached all of them several times to consider joining us [in interoperation], but they turn their backs on us," Hsieh said. "This is just like the early days of email. Remember Prodigy and CompuServe, when they had proprietary email clients? It seems so silly now. Now all email goes seamlessly from any one platform to another's, as it should."
"It's just a matter of time before they [AOL, MSN, Yahoo] all see the light," continued Hsieh. "Hopefully they'll all see that this will be a great benefit to their customers. It's all about choice, and the choice should be the customer's."
Last month, Google announced that as a result of its 5 percent acquisition of AOL earlier in the year, it would enable interoperation with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Meanwhile, Yahoo and Microsoft have had discussions about breaking down a decade-long barrier between users of their IM services.
This week's news, however, speeds the overall interoperability process along even faster.
"We think this is pretty exciting," said Google Talk product manager Mike Jazayeri, "and we hope it will bring us one step closer to making IM and Internet voice calling as ubiquitous as email."
A list of the most popular IM clients that can immediately be configured to include Google Talk appears here.
GAIM is the open source version of AOL's AIM. To configure your GAIM client to include Google Talk, go here. If you need to download GAIM, you can find it here.
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