The Google (Talk) Difference
I can’t run the proprietary (yes, Google has its own proprietary, Windows-only communications application now… good on ’em) Google Talk application but from what I can gather, the main innovative Google difference I was expecting is that Google is competing directly with the likes of Skype, yet using an open network that will work outside of closed networks such as Yahoo, AIM and MSN. It also appears the plug-in architecture means it will be easily integrated into other applications (like GMail) relatively simple.
Me, I’ve still yet to work out how that will happen because a) a GMail account is required and even MSN allows any email address to be used, and b) users are really going to use the Google Talk client unless they’re odd like me and other Mac or Linux users, and have to settle for Jabber, which doesn’t support the full feature range. So it really is, in effect, proprietary and closed, even if that is not technically true.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong. I’m still trying to get my head around it, which isn’t easy when you’re excluded by virtue of the OS you run.
Oh, and I’m told Google Talk doesn’t support emoticons. Whatever are they thinking of? 🙂
Having said all that, the reports I’ve seen thus far are positive, even from Mac users. I’m also told there are no ads! It will be very interesting to see how this pans out.
