Gmail Gets Chatty

[liammpease]

Google debuted Gmail Chat on Tuesday, a service that would allow users of the client to start instant messaging chats from their Gmail account, as well as save their chat like e-mail messages or see when contacts are online through the Google Talk network. The features are very similar to those recently added to MSN's Hotmail service and Yahoo's mail client. The service will work with either the Internet Explorer 6 or Firefox 1.0 browsers.

Gmail Chat will also synchronize a users Quick Contact list with his or her messaging contacts list to show a list of that person's most frequently contacted buddies. When a chat is initiated from this list, a chat window would open from within the browser, thus eliminating the need for the user to download the standalone Google Talk client.

[clanosiris]

i like that feature but i never see anybody else on when i check my emails. so i never got a chance to use it. I did try it with my friend but it was done on purpose just to see what it looks like. messages were delived quickly but i think AIM is still better.

[liammpease]

Yes well when these sort of things start it takes time for people to come on.

[clanosiris]

i truly don't see the purpose of using gmail chat service. Most online users already use Yahoo, MSN, AIM or IRC. Google is just trying to make more money by adding features that truly don't make any sense. I am sure htey will eventually put ads in chat program to squeeze more money. When you are checking mail,most people don't spend more than 5-10 min. So chances of someone getting a hold of someone on chat is really low unless you know the time they log into gmail to check their email.