---
title: Google Talk
date: "2005-08-24T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 574
description: I examine the initial release of Google Talk, a lightweight 900K instant messenger. I find it remarkably simple and lean, though I'm still searching for standout features beyond its highly-praised, high-quality voice chat capabilities.
keywords: [google talk, gtalk, instant messaging, voip, voice chat, software launch]
---

[Google Talk](http://www.google.com/talk/about.html) is a Google instant messenger. It's quite small (900K), very simple, and uses HTML+Javascript+CSS+XML. But I'm yet to figure out it it has any cool features. Quick [review at DownloadSquad](http://www.downloadsquad.com/2005/08/23/googe-talk-review/).

---

## Comments

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- **Prasenjeet** _24 Aug 2005 12:53 pm_:
  Not sure about the HTML/JS/CSS ... looks like a tightly-written Win32 app to me
- **S Anand** _24 Aug 2005 2:07 pm_:
  Oh, is it? Looked quite like a web page to me... will check out.
- **Dhar** _25 Aug 2005 12:08 pm_:
  I tried out the voice chat. Leaving comparisons aside (as I have not used Skype), the sound quality was amazing. It was almost as if the person was in the room with me. Other than that, no cool features. :(
- **S Anand** _25 Aug 2005 1:35 pm_:
  Probably thanks to all the fiber optic bandwidth they're supposed to have purchased. But I wonder how.
- **Dhar** _26 Aug 2005 1:57 am_:
  Finally got it working at home and tried exploring various features. At the end of the process, realized there are hardly \_any\_ features. Will take it some time to catch up with features of clients like Yahoo Messenger.
- **jayant** _27 Aug 2005 9:21 am_:
  I guess it is better with less features. Thin client is all about that. Less download time. More functionality which avg users click more. Voice quality is great if both parties are using broadband. On dial up, it comes with bit of lag and some echo.
- **Dhar** _9 Sep 2005 3:42 pm_:
  Anand, had some thoughts on where Google Talk may really be headed. Have put a rough outline [here](http://sumitdhar.blogspot.com/2005/09/gtalks-purpose.html).

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