Introduction
Google Talk uses VoIP technology which can be installed on Windows Operating System that helps user to send messages and/or make internet calls from computer to computer. This user friendly software largely focuses on email and chat, than voice calls; and it is officially available in beta version.
How to use Google Talk:
Google Talk is readily available to use with Google’s email account (Gmail), as it is incorporated with Gmail; however, it is not necessary to open a Gmail account to use Google Talk as it can be registered through SMS. Google Talk software is available online with 900k download for Windows XP and 2000 Operating Systems which can be easily installed and registered through verification email or SMS code. The only requirement to use Google Talk is a computer or notebook, high speed internet, installed Google Talk software and headphone or microphone with speakers.
Gmail users can enter their Gmail username and password to login to Google Talk as well as they can use their Gmail contact list and basic chat functionality through Gmail web interface. The contact list is displayed with colored ball next to every contact listed, indicating available state, idle state, busy or offline modes. The user also has an option to change his state through the drop down menu while he is online.
To make a voice call, both parties should be Google Talk registered and should be listed in each other’s contact list. The voice callers will be indicated by a green handset symbol in the contact list and user can speak with only one user at a time. To talk to another user, one has to put the current voice call on hold and then talk to another user. Hence conferencing and computer to phone or phone to computer call is not possible through Google Talk.
Features of Google Talk:
• Can send email directly by clicking email icon from Google Talk
• Can chat with multiple users at the same time
• Record all chat sessions through ‘on record’ and ‘off record’ feature
• Transcribed recordings can be accessed from chat folder of Gmail interface
• Instant file transfer (pictures and documents)
Protocols used in Google Talk:
Google Talk is available in open standard with XMPP technology which allows users to interact with users from other platform such as EarthLink or Gizmo Project. It does not support SIP technology.
Security in Google Talk:
Information is encryption through XMPP, Zfone or ORT technology; between Google Talk server and Google Talk client, except chat over HTTP (which does not support encryption), IMLogic proxy and international version of client.