Google Introduces Video and Voice Chat to Gmail, Interested?

Now there is more to cheer for Gmail chatters. Google Inc has added a voice and video chat feature to its Gmail email service on Tuesday. According to the obviousness of the market strategy, they surely want to compete with the likes of Skype..

So, Gmail and Google App subscribers can now choose to speak with friends on a video screen and simultaneously instant message them in a Google Chat box.

There is more…

The video screen can be popped out of the chat box and moved around a user’s computer screen. The size of the screen is user configurable and can be expanded upto full screen..

The idea was to make it quicker and easier to communicate with other people by whatever means is best convenient. It’s a nice alternative for businesses looking for another way for people to connect.

said a Google spokesman.

The feature is available for both PC and Apple computer users.

Users who do not have a webcam will still be able to chat with friends by voice.

[via: Reuters]

Google, as is usual these days, is a late entrant in this game, but I guess they just couldn’t keep their hands off of another piece of the pie. Google with each passing days, looks and feels more and more like Microsoft of yore. Will Google pose a serious competition to Yahoo Messenger and Skype? Only time will tell, but frankly I have my doubts.