Google Launches 'Talk' Instant Messaging - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Launches 'Talk' Instant Messaging

Google launched their own IM client today under the name of Google Talk.

The Windows XP/2000 client offers Instant Messanging and Voice over IP services similar to Apple's iChat application.

Google's IM service appears to be based the Jabber open-source standard which allows users to connect with other Jabber-capable clients -- such as iChat, GAIM, Adium, Trillian Pro and Psi.

Google Talk clients however, can't connect with AIM, MSN or Yahoo Messenger clients. PC World posts first impressions of the new IM client. According to the site, the client software is very bare-bones at the moment, but Google is reportedly working with Earthlink and Sippphone to provide compatibility with their voice services.
Mac OS X users can use iChat to talk to Google Talk individuals but Voice chat is not supported.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
macbook neo launch day

Apple May Drop Base $599 MacBook Neo as Chip, DRAM Costs Climb

Thursday May 7, 2026 4:55 am PDT by
Apple is considering dropping the cheapest MacBook Neo configuration as one possible response to the rising cost of building the popular laptop, according to Taiwan-based tech columnist and former Bloomberg reporter Tim Culpan. The Neo currently starts at $599 for a 256GB model, with a 512GB version at $699. Writing in his latest Culpium newsletter, Culpan says cutting the entry-level...