Google Launches Video and Voice Chat Within Gmail – Video Conferencing is Next?
Trust Google to add amazing features just when you feel they are slowing down on innovation. So Gmail’s chat within email feature sort of revolutionized the way we chat online. Now Google wants you to not only chat but also video chat and voice chat using Gmail.
As most people would know that Yahoo and MSN IM’s have had voice and video chats for years now but none of their email counterparts have a chat within mail forget voice chat or video chat within mail functionality.
Closer home Rediff.com has aped google chat within mail functionality but the question in how many users had a chat list on Rediff Bol in anycase over the years? One thing is for sure video or no video you are more likely to chat where your chat lists of friends is present and thats why Google is a kid still in the IM and chat market when compared to Yahoo and MSN.
Coming back to Google’s new feature it has build this as a plugin which means one needs to download it on one’s computer and its not a default activated feature on the web version of gmail yet nor can it be activated by an online click so a download is must to use it which kinda would reduce the early adoption if you ask me. Also the fact that the video feature shall work on only those machines in which I have this plugin downloaded and installed.
Check the video below to see how it works:
This feature was built by Google acquired Sweden company Marratech which was into online video conferencing solutions before Google acquired it.
I wont be surprised if video conferencing via Gmail is the future of this product and this little feature addition is just the tip of the iceberg to follow. So Webex and closer home Dimdim better watch out!
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Well ..well something seriously wrong either with this feature of voice chat or with me( as I am actaully doubting Google Guys over this chat thru gmail )
As soon as I logged out of gtalk the voice chat icon from gmail disappeared !!! Try it out Rajiv at ur end !!!!!
Why can’t this feature be in gtalk??