MSNBC: Google plans instant-messaging service

[gp]

Google plans instant-messaging service
Google Talk reported to combine text, voice calling

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. is set to introduce its own instant messaging system, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday, marking the expansion by the Web search leader into text and also voice communications.

Citing unnamed sources "familiar with the service," the Los Angeles Times said that Google's Instant Messaging program would be called Google Talk and could be launched as early as Wednesday.

In entering the hotly competitive messaging market, Google would be going up against some familiar rivals: AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft. AOL is by far the dominant leader in the market, with some 40 million users of its AIM and ICQ brands. Yahoo has around 20 million and Microsoft's MSN Messenger numbers some 14 million users, according to recent comScore Media Metrix data. (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)


More http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9050519/

[Hokie]

1. Just what we need - another IM Service

I already run Trillian to keep up with AOL and Yahoo users. I have Skype for voip. Yahoo just upgraded their IM service to include full duplex, phone quality voice. Now I see why they rushed it out.

[merwin]

2. I expect the google service to incorporate the other IM services.

[darkism]

3. *yawn*

Whatever happened to "do one thing and do it well?"

[drummo]

4. When was that a Google principle?

They can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Unlike Bush.

No wonder conservatives are so mad at Google. They cannot live without it, because it is needed for their smear campaigns, at the same time they hate to think that Google was founded by liberals, is being led by liberals and it has given money to liberals.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

5. Data mining...

... is what google is all about. I can't even click on some of the links that google finds for me because my security settings won't allow a second or third party go between, ie.... overture, among others.

[Moderator]

6. Duplicate

From Monday
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1719943