This comes in via Mashable - Google has introduced a new widget (its more like a GTalk feature) and its called Chatback. Its function is pretty simple - it lets you embed GTalk into your blog or your website (well any website that allows modification of HTML at-least). 

 

When users visit your site, they’ll see a badge like the one below showing your online status (available, busy, offline) and, if you’re available, they can just click and start chatting. Chatback uses the web-based Google Talk Gadget so your visitors don’t need to download anything. It opens in a new window so they can keep chatting with you even if they browse to other pages. 

 

 

 

 

If you don’t want people disturbing you then you could also put your status at busy and that will automatically make you unavailable for chat. Another good thing is that the guest chat pops up on your Gmail.

 

 

 

I think the feature is great primarily because it makes blogs, and particularly comments more conversational (quite obvious actually). I also think that bloggers will soon be posting material that is material generated from conversational threads.  

 

In the post on the Future of Books, i had also mentioned that along with Customization and Networking, there is the possibility of Interactivity where users can video conference or chat with authors and discuss the book. This i think is the 1st step. Famous bloggers will probably set aside time everyday to discuss material via chats.

 

Aamir Khan also has a chat option on his blog! 

 

 

 

This kind of a strategy is great for GTalk primarily because it distributes the service everywhere and does a lot for GTalk in terms of branding. Remember GTalk was a later entrant - it came after Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger and thus to be remembered as a chat service GTalk needs to be as innovative as possible - and this is one easy way to do it and gain visibility. I think providers that distribute content and services better on the Internet will succeed. The thing with Google is that it think Big - really Big. It’s broad horizons have also brought forth innovations like Open Social. 

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