Starting right now, Google is rolling out voice and video chat to all Gmail users. The audio-video chat feature is fairly simple and works straight from the browser. Unlike Skype and other VOIP services, you can’t make phone calls and scores of other features are missing, but still it’s a great add-on for Gmail.
Google decided to ditch flash, and build their proprietary add-on for the feature. The add-on weighs around 2 MB and supports IE, Firefox, Chrome in PC and Firefox-only for Mac users. Once the video feature is enabled in your account, you’ll see "Video & more." option in the lower left corner of the Gmail chat box. If you are trying to make a video call to someone, who has not installed the add-on, you’ll be able to invite them to do so. You have an option to go full-screen while video chatting.
(click to enlarge)
I’m quite disappointed that Google didn’t consider using the cross-platform Flash plugin. Since most people already have Flash plugin installed, users don’t need to install another browser add-on. Google Talk application has supported voice chat right from its early days. I’d like to see some of these new features added to the downloadable client as well.
Update: I’ve just confirmed that this works with Safari on OSX too, so the Apple people haven’t been left out.
Update: Here’s the announcement from Google
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wrote, on November 12th, 2008
The Google juggernaut just keeps on rolling! The Gmail offering just keeps on getting better and better, and adding voice and video to chat will win over more converts. Can this brand be stopped? They are just so far ahead of everybody else in terms of sheer resources that I can’t see anybody dethroning Google soon!
wrote, on November 12th, 2008
Wow, great add-on for gmail. It seems like Google is on the roll here. They just keep on coming with new products or great improvements to their existing products.
I’m on gmail, so I’ll be using this feature as from now.
wrote, on November 12th, 2008
Another battle with yahoo! For the world of it, I can not understand why they did not do it earlier.
wrote, on November 12th, 2008
Thank you. I have just downloaded it.
wrote, on November 12th, 2008
Its a excellent feature from google, but the main problem is the quality is not that good and both parties need a cam to connect, but in case of yahoo messenger even if one party has a cam they can show it to others. May be this is also offered in Gtalk Application very soon!
wrote, on November 13th, 2008
[...] See more here: Google adds Video and Voice chat to Gmail [...]
wrote, on November 17th, 2008
They are getting better and better I think there is nobody left to compare with them.
wrote, on November 18th, 2008
I had to laugh when I read Chritsmas’ posts - of course you need a cam for video chat.
PS - I can see the real point of course about needing 2!
wrote, on November 26th, 2008
Hei..thats fantastic. Didn’t realised that before.Hope for Google to make the Gtalk cross to other networks too soon. Cheers
wrote, on November 29th, 2008
I would still prefer using Skype over Gmail’s video chat option. Skype allows you to see the picture in full screen.
wrote, on December 1st, 2008
I’ve just recently started using this feature on my gmail chat, it took time because I had to first people on my contacts about it so that they load it.
Thumbs up for Google once again.