I just installed Google Talk and so far I can't tell what codecs it supports or what protocol it is using for the voice. I know the IM portion is using Jabber, which means you can configure third-party IM clients such as GAIM or iChat to work with Google Talk. I did a port scan and 5060 isn't open, so it isn't using the standard SIP port. Checking Google Talk's site, I found this with regards to SIP:
4. Do you plan to support other real-time communication protocols?
Google Talk supports XMPP with the beta release. We plan to support SIP in a future release. Additionally, we will evaluate other protocols as appropriate, to continue to deliver on our commitment to open communications.
Well, no SIP for now. Nevertheless, this software clearly looks like an attempt to go up against Skype. The user interface is very simplistic, either modelling after Google's "simple" web home page or they're just getting this product's feet wet before they add all the "bells & whistles". It does have one-click access to your Gmail email account (launches default browser) and it also features a small window popup in the lower right system tray when you receive an incoming emaiil or instant message. It also appears that similar to Google's Gmail email service that you can save your Chat history. Unlike Gmail however, it appears you can opt-out of recording your chat sessions. To logon you simply use your Gmail account. Looks like the GMail invites should see a spike due to Google Talk. Wonder if people are still selling Gmail invites on eBay?
I'll report more after I make a test call.
Update: Made my first Google Talk Call
The sound quality was excellent and latency was very minimal. I actually made a PSTN call and a Google Talk call and held the microphone up to the PSTN phone I was using. On the remote end I had the person turn his external speakers up so I could hear when my voice came through. I did some simple counting and almost immediately I could hear my voice come out of the remote speakers, into the remote callers phone handset, over the PSTN, and then to my phone handset. Pretty amazing how minimal the latency was considering it was round trip.My only complaint is that you can't right-click a contact and initiate an immediate Google Talk voice call. You had to start a chat session first - a bit annoying. Anyway, here's a screenshot of the call:
Update: Found this regarding codec support: Wow, they're supporting Global IP Sounds amazing codec right out of the gate! It's no secret that one of the reasons Skype sounds so damn good is the Global IP Sound codec.
Today, Google Talk supports the following standard voice codecs: PCMA, PCMU, G.723, iLBC. We are also evaluating the Speex codec. We also support codecs from Global IP Sound: ISAC, IPCMWB, EG711U, EG711A
And check this out, unlike Skype they will be working with third-party VoIP softphones/IM clients. This is also from the Google Talk page:
2. Whom are you federating with?
As a first step towards fulfilling our commitment to federation, we will federate with EarthLink and Sipphone, service providers who share our belief in enabling user choice and open communications.
3. When will federation with EarthLink and Sipphone be available?
We do not have details at this time on when federation will be enabled. But we are working closely with Earthlink and Sipphone to federate EarthLink's Vling service and Sipphone's Gizmo Project with the Google Talk service as quickly as possible, while offering the best possible user experience.
Some key points about Google Talk:
- Works with other Jabber clients but IM only - no voice support via 3rd party apps
- No SMS support
- No file transfer support
- No Jabber-to-Jabber intra-server communication
- No Mac or Linux client (Windows only)
- Can't organize contacts into groups
- Can rename the clients via right-click context menu but not a single-click rename
- Good voice quality
- Uses a proxy server run by Google (eavesdropping concern for some)
- Can't right-click a contact then initiate a voice call
- No video support
- No conference chat or conference Voice Chat
- No PSTN capability (i.e. SkypeOut) (yet)
Download Squad
Google Talk Just a Me Too Product for now
Check out the screenshots of the interface.
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Hey Tom, I can't determine if Google is using only Gips' codecs or their entire voice engine. We all talk a lot about their codec, but their engine is what really makes for total sound quality. That's why Skype is so good.
Just the codecs from what I understand. I'm investigating further to see if they plan to add the engine.
I'm testing Google Talk boundaries too. I want to get the record number of contacts "friends". So add me tehdsf@gmail.com and make history. Thanks!
Google Talk is using GIPS, but pretty much everyone who matters (Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Google and Gizmo Project) uses it as well so there should be similar voice quality from all as long as Skypes p2p system doesn't continue to degrade.
Google Talk does not use SIP today for voice, but they have committed to exchange voice data from our network to theirs and we use SIP.
-- MR
Google talk - only for rich people? What about Win 95-98 users?
Any version of yahoo messenger runs on Windows 98!
Regarding this comment:
- Can't right-click a contact then initiate a voice call
Yes, you should be able to do that. But maybe the need to click and open the chat window makes someone more likely to type a quick message like, "Hey, is now a good time to call?" before calling.
>>Yes, you should be able to do that. But maybe the need to click and open the chat window makes someone more likely to type a quick message like, "Hey, is now a good time to call?" before calling.
That would make Google Talk an IM client first and VoIP client second. In Skype for example, it is a VoIP client first and a IM client second, since you simply double-click the contact to initiate a call, as well as Right-Click call, or Right-Click IM. In both Skype and Google Talk tou can view their status to see if they are currently on a call, busy, etc. So there is no need to IM first really, especially if it's a family member or a friend.
I agree IM'ing before calling is nice, but really only necessary when calling business associates or people you aren't really close with. In those instances, it may be more polite to IM before calling by IM'ing "Hey, are you available to talk right now?"
Of course, rather than IMing you could still call and you could leave it up to the remote Google Talk user to decide to take or ignore the call.
I'd still like to have the option to make a VoIP call instantly via a right-click or double-click rather than it default to popping the IM window. Make it a preference option within Google Talk.
Ugh. Why use JPEG for screenshots? Try PNG, looks much nicer.
"No conference chat or conference Voice Chat (though Skype doesn't do it either)"
I believe you are mistaken. I've participated in several conference calls with Skype. You can even invite a mix of Skype and SkypeOut contacts. IMO this is one of its main strengths.
And you can most certainly engage in text groupchats - over fifty users IIRC.
You can't right click and initiate a voice conversation... but you can click on the green phone phone logo near each name in the list and initiate directly a voice call this way!
When the contact is offline (or not using the google talk software but other clients like GAIM etc.) the icon turns into a mail envelope and clicking on it opens the compose-mail window!
Mike - thanks for pointing that out. I knew about the conference voice feature in Skype but for some reason I thought Skype didn't do group chat. I never use the text feature of Skype, so I guess I must have missed that. Removed the text.
DAniele - Good point about a single-click voice call. I figured that out too, but much later. I was trying to get my Google Talk review online as quickly as possible. I'd still like to see right-click functionality in Google Talk to be able to select: View Profile, Chat, Voice Call, etc.
Thanks for fixing the text, Tom.
All in all it's a great writeup. Definitely deserves the link on Wikipedia.
Is there a way to configure conference for chat in google talk
Dear Sr,
Now, i live in Myanmar..
Here Proxy error..
Here ISP.. other proxy banned..
i can't login your google talk..
Pls any proxy give me..
Thank of your helping`
my country myanmar
is one of the political close country.
now our goverment don't allow to use gmail and gtalk.
they prevent this to control the information float.
so
how can i access gtalk and gmail from this regional local network
I need myanmar voip terminator,
please let me know if you have
Andres Cerda
andres.cerda@realtelekom.com
awesome Google talk review. I use Google Talk from beginning and it's much better then Skype or any other available VoIP software