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Today Google Searches, Tomorrow Google Talks
By David Utter
Expert Author
Article Date: 2005-08-23
Rumors of a forthcoming Google instant messaging and voice platform get a boost from the LA Times.
This may be the best heads-up yet about a new Google IM and voice service. The Los Angeles Times claims to have spoken with a source who has tested the new Google Talk product.
Google has already announced it will debut a new product on Wednesday. But a spokesperson would not comment on specifics, not entirely unexpectedly. Search Engine Journal has already observed the presence of the talk.google.com subdomain and its redirection to www.google.com/talk.
The rumored Google Talk will combine standard keyboard chat with voice capabilities. AOL and Yahoo both offer similar services now, via their AIM and Yahoo Messenger products, respectively. Google recently updated its desktop search beta tool to include a modular component called Sidebar; perhaps the new IM tool will be a plug-in for Sidebar.
Google has said many times that its focus is on search and relevance. An IM tool could help keep people using a Google product, but Google is not a content provider like Yahoo or AOL.
Perhaps Google plans to buy AOL after Google's new stock sale takes place. That would certainly give Google enough content to become a portal player and carve into Yahoo's business now.
About the Author:
David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.
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