Google takes on Skype, MSN with free voice and video chat in Australia

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 12 November 2008 01:00

Business IT - Networking

In yet another spreading of its wings, Google has launched a free voice and video chat service that enables users in Australia to connect with users elsewhere in the world.  Unlike services such as Skype and MSN Messenger (Live Messenger), which are desktop based, Gmail voice and video chat is completely browser based.

According to Google, Gmail is the first leading webmail service to include video chat. All that's needed is a webcam, a microphone/headset and a browser plugin, rather than a program download like Skype.

While the service is browsers based, the world's 1% of Linux desktop users will unfortunately find they have been once again given short shrift as Google Voice & Video Chat requires at least Windows XP or an Intel-Based Mac with Mac OS X v10.4 or later to work. It seems to be a familiar story that mainstream software and services producers are ignoring the Linux desktop platform while continuing to roll out products for Windows and the Mac.

However, the wide variety of browsers on the market are covered by the new Google service. It works in all browsers that support the latest version of Gmail (Google Chrome, Firefox 2.0+, Internet Explorer 7.0, and Safari 3.0). Linux desktop users take note that Konqueror is not mentioned.

"Sometimes there's no substitute for speaking to and seeing someone, and in tighter economic times, an online video or voice chat is a cost-effective option," says Alan Noble, Google's Head of Engineering for Australia and New Zealand.  "If a smiley face and a 'lol' aren't getting your message across, with a simple click you can now share your real meaning face-to-face over a video connection."

According to Google it is offering browser-based voice and video chat as a natural extension to webmail and instant messaging, allowing people to choose how they want to communicate at each moment.  The launch comes as video communication grows in popularity; many of the latest laptops, for example, come with built-in webcams.

Gmail is now in widespread use, with Google and is integrated with Google Apps like Google Calendar and Google Docs. 

Today's announcement is the latest in a range of new Gmail features, many of which have sprung from Gmail's public testing ground for experimental features, Gmail Labs (available under 'Settings'in a Gmail account).

To get started with the new service, open a Gmail chat window, click on the "Options" menu at the bottom, and choose "Add voice/video chat," which will walk you through a one-time installation of a free plugin (a 2 MB download).  When you re-open Gmail you'll notice your "Options" link in your chat window has changed to "Video & more".  Open this menu and click "Start video chat" to see and hear your conversation partner in what Google claims is high-quality video.  You can pop out the video and change its size and position, or switch to full screen.  If you don't have a webcam, you can simply chat by voice. 

Gmail voice and video chat is being rolled out globally over the next day or so in all 50 languages supported by Gmail, on PCs and on Macs.  Google Apps customers get this service as well, at no extra charge, and can video chat with any other Gmail or Apps users.

It is still unclear, however, whether Google will be able to match the voice and video quality and responsiveness of the popular Skype, which is a peer-to-peer service that enlists the power of hundreds of millions of client computers in its network.

Further info about Gmail voice and video chat can be found at http://mail.google.com/videochat.