Google Combines Email, Chat

Google unveiled upon Tuesday plans to launch a novel communication feature for its independent webmail service. Gmail Chat integrates e-mail and IM capabilities and will be added to all US-based accounts in the coming weeks.

Google has enabled the fresh feature by adding the Gmail service to its Google Talk Network. The network works upon a "service choice" premise, where it tenders IM interoperability regardless of service provider. Google has embedded the Chat feature directly into its e-mail interface for a like reason the user doesn't have to download additional applications.

After signing into a Gmail account, a customized "Quick Contacts" case shows up on the protection Quick Contacts are people that users communicate with greatest in quantity often, whether through e-mail or IM. The user can click upon any individual to begin conversing.

Similar to storing e-mails, when the Chat function is enabled, Gmail users can opt to save their conversations. Chats are stored through date and time in a specified folder which the user can search by means of keyword or contact. In addition, users can view, forward, print, blot out or reply to messages stored in the chat history.

Privacy concerns? No point to be solved [i]or[/i] settled Google also allows users to make progress "off the record" when chatting with particular nation Users can apply the off-the-record option to any Quick Contact, and one time that designation has been made it remains "persistent across chats," meaning that the setting will be applicable to the individual at hand until the user disables the function.

Gmail Chat is commonly available on select Web browser including Windows IE 60+ and Firefox 10+ Google says it plans to turn the feature out to additional browser in the futurity according to officials.

Copyright ?© 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserv Originally appearing in ExtremeTech