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Voice calling coming soon to Gmail?
A while back, I tried to calm Mike Arrington down via a post -- he was quite worked about about Google's apparent scrapping of the rumored desktop client for Google Voice. No worries, I said, it's going to be coming to your browser soon enough. All the necessary bits are there, after all, at least in Google Chrome.
Two days later, Alex Chitu seredipitously posted a screenshot of what appeared to be the beginnings of a voice calling panel in Gmail.
Now, CNet's Tom Krazit has shared two more images -- the first which you can see in the header clearly showing a call phone option in the Gmail chat widget. Better still, it's also proudly proclaiming free calls to the U.S. and Canada for the remainder of 2010.
Two days later, Alex Chitu seredipitously posted a screenshot of what appeared to be the beginnings of a voice calling panel in Gmail.
Now, CNet's Tom Krazit has shared two more images -- the first which you can see in the header clearly showing a call phone option in the Gmail chat widget. Better still, it's also proudly proclaiming free calls to the U.S. and Canada for the remainder of 2010.
The second image (right) shows the call widget itself, which will be tabbed -- on tab featuring a dial pad and the other which will display your recent calling history.As I said before, a browser-based client makes much more sense for Google than a desktop one for several reasons. For starters, they've pretty much declared the desktop to be a dead end and thrown their weight behind the Web. They're rolling updates for Chrome faster than ever before and steamrolling toward the release of the browser-heavy Chrome OS later this year.
Integrating voice calling into Gmail would not only help drive additional users to Gmail, but it could also widen Chrome's user base -- since it's very possible the voice calling features could require some Chrome-only features like Native Client.
Either way, the addition of voice calling to Gmail would be huge.
Now let's hope they roll this out to more than just U.S. users when it finally arrives...
Comments
4
Subscribe to commentsJuan R. PerezAug 25th 2010 7:58AM
I insist, combine all communication services (Talk, Voice, Chat) into one in a web browser plug-in. Let desktop client RIP, and throw the combined services accross all Google sites (Sites, Reader, Gmail, Docs, Calendar) with a bar (a la Meebo)
johnbondjoviAug 25th 2010 8:34AM
As a heavy user of Google Talk desktop in a work environment (100+ users) web clients don't cut it.
If I am inside another program how does the web app inform me of a call?
If I look at my taskbar now I have 10 open programs, Google Talk stands out and it takes 1 click to get to it,(also specific conversations are shown) the web version requires me to open firefox, then open the gmail tab, then only do I see google talk.
I can't force auto start as a policy on the web version for all my users, the desktop client auto starts(and auto login!) for all my users. I need to be able FORCE stuff on people.
The Google Talk desktop client is the smoothest IM client I have ever used, the web client is clunky.
Google is wrong I am afraid. Native apps still kick ass and I predict it will for another 5 years.
Lee MathewsAug 25th 2010 8:36AM
Chrome already supports desktop notifications -- Seesmic does them quite well. I've got to think that Google would be building in something similar to a voice app in Gmail.
...and Gmail already plays a sound to alert you to new chat messages, so why not a ringing sound?
BonjAug 25th 2010 10:10AM
I am a fan of Grand Central, I mean Google Voice. The Google Voice extension in Chrome brings a bit more of Google Voice to every webpage/webapp by linking phone numbers to Google Voice, whether it be in an e-mail (gmail or other online mail, yes even OWA), Contacts within Gmail, or elsewhere. Of course, you have to be using Chrome to use the extension, but that is not such a bad thing.