All you have to do is download and install the voice and video plugin, which will work on PCs with Windows XP or Vista, as well as on Macs with OS X 10.4 or later. The plugin will work with all the major browsers, including Google’s own Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. Interestingly, Google Talk, Google’s desktop chat program does not have any video functionality yet, though Google enabled voice chat for Google Talk a long time ago.
In the spirit of open communications, Google designed this feature using Internet standards such as XMPP, RTP, and H.264, which means that third-party applications and networks can choose to interoperate with Gmail voice and video chat.
With voice and video Google is obviously taking up on Skype and it has some distinct advantages. It is web based, although I wouldn’t mind a fully featured Google talk client for the mainstream operating systems, so you just need a computer with Internet access. The great news for organizations is that it rides on the global address book that you have already when you use Google Apps.
All of this brings Gmail another step closer to Unified Communications where you have all your communications available for you in one applications (read: screen). I still wonder when they will integrate GrandCentral to make your phone(s) work seamless with Gmail: listen to voice mails from your inbox, click to call and set your availability through the presence settings of Gmail.
But first let’s start enjoying integrated video conferencing. And please buy a Mac so you don’t have to scramble your camera and microphone every time you want to use it.
Oh yeah, Microsoft has all of this already with its Office Communication Server but thats really for large Microsoft shops only (good for you if you are). I suppose Cisco, Ericsson and Alcatel have something alike too but all much harder to get and implement.
Checkout Say hello to Gmail voice and video chat for the full post.
