14 months ago, when Google added Vista support for its instant messaging client, nobody anticipated a long period with no updates. According to a Google engineer, the desktop client hasn't been abandoned and we should expect a completely new version of Google Talk. While I couldn't find when it will be released or the new features, it's reassuring to hear that Google is still working on GTalk.
Some of the most popular features requested by users are already available in the online interfaces: group chats, invisible mode, AIM integration, so we should expect to find them in a new release of Google Talk. Other features are already standard in other IM clients: video conferencing, conference calls, phone calls.
Last year, a presentation for Google Apps inadvertently included a screenshot of Google Talk enhanced with the ability to make phone calls. In the comments, someone informed us that "internally at Google, this feature is already active since long".
What would you like to see in this all-new version of Google Talk?
Labels: Google Talk
Nilesh said on March 2, 2008 3:20 PM PDT:
I am really waiting for new version from long time . I hope they will release soon with great new features.
AEF said on March 2, 2008 3:22 PM PDT:
Where did you hear of this Google Engineer?
said on March 2, 2008 3:38 PM PDT:
love to see a mobile client with voip capability. espezially 4 the iphone!
It would be nice to have a link to where this Google engineer said the client hasn't been abandoned... But it's good news, and I trust your site.
I asked Justin Uberti, a Google Talk developer.
Andre said on March 2, 2008 4:04 PM PDT:
Google Talk for Linux -- when?
Why not ask him when we can expect to see a new client. Running a web client constantly isn't feasible, and without that you can't take advantage of the new features. Developing features first for the web client is head over arse.
Tom said on March 2, 2008 4:11 PM PDT:
will it work with Grand Central?
Gerardo said on March 2, 2008 4:11 PM PDT:
It would be great to have a linux version that supports all the features that are supported in the windows one.
It would be even better if it didn't use wine (as Picasa)
Also, video-conference and conference calls would be very useful
Radoslav said on March 2, 2008 4:30 PM PDT:
I have to say I am astonished! This is a shock.
KB3JUV said on March 2, 2008 5:36 PM PDT:
I'd like to see it integrated with Grand Central. I'd like to have it running on my desktop and be able to answer incoming calls to my GC number and etc.
I'd also like to see Grand Central integrated with Gmail. Imagine getting all of your voicemails in your inbox.
Leif902 said on March 2, 2008 5:48 PM PDT:
I'd like to see all the capabilities of the Gmail client first of all... how stupid does a company have to be to maintain - how many is it now? Three? - versions of the same application. One of the very few quams I have with Google...
Woolery said on March 2, 2008 5:52 PM PDT:
++ on linux support! Preferably native Gnome support and not emulator based.
said on March 2, 2008 6:11 PM PDT:
@Wooley:
WINE is not emulation :D
Charlie said on March 2, 2008 6:19 PM PDT:
I am not at all surprised about the phonecall ability, given google's push into mobile phones and their aquisition of GrandCentral.
Hopefully, the delay in Google Talk, together with a delay in any activity around GrandCentral since Google acquired them, spells out some awesome new version of Google Talk that ties together phone calls (ala Skype) with your computer, keeps your voicemail all in one place with all kinds of sort/search features like Gmail has right now, and uses a single address book tied to your email, voicemail, and instant message accounts.
As an extra wish, can this all tie to my iPhone too? I'd like my Google/GrandCentral voicemail to show up on the iPhone as visual voicemail when I'm away from my computer.
danbob said on March 2, 2008 8:17 PM PDT:
A native Linux version would be glorious, as would GrandCentral integration. Skype does pretty well on Linux, but Google Talk would be much nicer to look at.
said on March 2, 2008 10:51 PM PDT:
I'd like to see Linux support and msn / yahoo integration.
At the moment I'm bound to a multi protocol messenger because many of the people I know use AIM, MSN or Yahoo (And Google ofcourse)
my colleagues and i would like to see
- icq/aim support (like in gmail chat)
- 'invisible' mode (like in gmail chat)
- possibility to change interface (maybe some built-in skins)
said on March 3, 2008 2:19 AM PDT:
My top 2:
- Multi-protocol support
- A drop shadow
said on March 3, 2008 2:31 AM PDT:
Gtalk is dead. It`s 100% true information. Google development team was disbanded. Trust me
said on March 3, 2008 4:38 AM PDT:
I am willing to agree with the previous comment that Gtalk is dead, because Google aims to provide reliable web 2.0 online services and lack of updates for Gtalk is a serious evidence.
Kemal said on March 3, 2008 7:01 AM PDT:
Shouldn't be dead. Last year they bought a company called Marratech which develops cross platform video conferencing solutions. I think Google will integrate this video conferencing thing to their Apps with Talk...
What do I expect from Google Talk: A native Linux client with video conferencing.
You can take a snap shot of your face with Google Talk Sidebar via a flash app. Guess from this point: Video conferencing will be integrated to Google Talk Sidebar???
Cheers!
said on March 3, 2008 8:03 AM PDT:
Are talk and chat different?
It would be good to choose whether your pic comes up or to have a choice on who sees a pic/different pics for different contacts.
Benjamin said on March 3, 2008 8:31 AM PDT:
++ Linux Client.
Google Talk Federation or at least WLM interoperability.
Client for Linux. It's my dream.
said on March 3, 2008 1:35 PM PDT:
- linux (ubuntu) client
- msn sign in support
said on March 3, 2008 2:26 PM PDT:
How about true cross platform support... Windows, Mac, Linux, Source so it can be compiled to any platform.
Id like gtalk voice on any playform/hardware sollution.
WLM interaction
multiplatform version
multichat
when is it due?
Jevo said on March 3, 2008 2:45 PM PDT:
I'd like to be able to select bits/pieces of a conversation and quickly launch a google search using those bits/pieces as the search terms.
@ jevo
you can do that from the conversation log, selecting the text, clicking with the right button and selecting Search Google for "text" (FF ;) )
aj said on March 3, 2008 3:35 PM PDT:
Replace Google Talk client with official Google support for Pidgin. I mean other than employing robot101.
said on March 3, 2008 9:29 PM PDT:
I would like to see a "Mark Read" and Delete button for email checking.
Cookie said on March 4, 2008 5:39 AM PDT:
Cookie said on March 4, 2008 5:39 AM PDT:
Good news, but I can't understand why it takes them so long.
This new version looks good and is much needed. I just hope they make it available for Mac users as well this time.
Matt said on March 4, 2008 7:40 AM PDT:
I want gtalk to stop switching to microphone record source when I connect to talk, and I also want to be able to paste bitmap data instead of always dragging image files from the hard drive. These features make it easier to share my desktop environment (sound and screenshot). These trivial changes are necessary just to match AIM's primitive functionality. they do not add bloat like most other suggestions.
[Personally I could not care less about video conferencing and voip...]
said on March 4, 2008 2:43 PM PDT:
iPhone SDK Thursday...maybe thats where we're heading ?
Ferk said on March 6, 2008 5:43 AM PDT:
@aj "official Google support for Pidgin"
That's the best idea I've ever read!
they really should do something like that... it wont be much of a trouble for them, as most of the code is already there.
Yann said on March 11, 2008 3:23 PM PDT:
I dream about a linux client for a 64 bits system which support Voip.
Yann said on March 11, 2008 3:27 PM PDT:
Or a Pidgin plugin, it's a good thing too.
well... 9 days... still nothing :|
don't you have any more updates on this? ...
I don't know when the new version will be released, so don't count the days.
said on March 12, 2008 6:57 PM PDT:
It's dead, Jim
blurymind said on March 21, 2008 2:34 AM PDT:
conference calls,multy user chat..
A LINUX CLIENT- ITS ABOUT TIME YOU RELEASE IT!
Shawnmb said on March 26, 2008 11:23 PM PDT:
As long as they don't add smileys to the desktop client we're all set.
so... there we have: GTalk, LE!
...
Well, the information was accurate.
"According to a Google engineer, the desktop client hasn't been abandoned and we should expect
a completely new version of Google Talk."
said on April 22, 2008 2:05 AM PDT:
Not quite dead yet:
www.google.com/talk/labsedition/
PLEASE!!!! Make a version for the mac!!
