Google and VoIP: The Story So Far
February 15, 2007
Google and VoIP: The Story So Far
digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/tech_news/Google_VoIP_The_Story_So_Far’;Most fairy tales end with the trite and magical, "…and they lived happily ever after." But the story behind Google and its VoIP service, Google Talk Beta, isn’t a fairy tale. It’s more like a whodunit, where the plot is shrouded in a "dark and stormy night."
So put on your sleuth gear and join me if you dare as I lead you into Google and its VoIP mystery thus far…
How It All Began
Up to recent memory, it was almost impossible to separate Google Talk Beta from Google’s free Web mail service, Gmail. When Google Talk first appeared on 23 August 2005, no one could touch that app unless that person used a by-invitation-only Gmail account. It was as though Gmail had spawned a wannabe VoIP that was non-threatening yet slightly snobby.
But Google Talk is a Beta, and limited usage was probably a wise move by Google in the beginning. Since that time, Google decided to expand Google Talk’s coverage by opening Gmail to mobile phone users. Additionally, as recently as 7 February 2007, Gmail was made available in an open invitation to users across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Brazil, Australia, Russia and Japan.
Now, with few if any usability issues in sight in the Google Talk Beta version, anyone can sign up for Google Talk. Gmail accounts are no longer a prerequisite, but Google didn’t open Google Talk’s doors totally to the global surfing public. Chat histories and mail notifications will only work if you sign into Google Talk with a Gmail account.
Don’t let appearances deceive you…despite this new "openness," Google Talk Beta has raised eyebrows as well as suspicions recently. According to VoIP News, it appears that Google Talk’s creators are up to something much more disruptive than the creation of a mere instant messenger service.