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Google Talk Available Early
smash writes "Google's new IM service is already live. All you need is a Jabber-compatible Instant Messaging client (such as Apple's iChat, or gaim), and a GMail address." This should answer, at least in part, all of the speculation that has been flying around the net over the last couple of days. Update: Many users have been eager to let us know that Google Talk in indeed live.
Encryption? Like, good SSL-based encryption? Do you know how many people use AIM or Yahoo Messenger without encryption? Do you know how many use it with their university or coffee shop's unencrypted wireless service?
Google, if you're listening, please please please make authentication and encryption the default with your new messaging service! Please! I'm stuck on campus all day, and I've got non-tech friends who refuse to use GAIM with GAIM-encrypt!
Yes, and there's a good chance it will stay this way. Its probably the best way to make sure that spammers don't start getting gmail accounts.
Its a method of 'verifying' users by having other users verify them (by making the service invite-only.) Its more secure than say, having to enter the text from some obscured image (which can be done en masse by paying somebody probably something small.)
So yes, at this point, anybody who really wants a gmail account has one, but spammers have largely been shut out.
The reason for their distribution pattern is a little to prevent abuse, a little to create a community network and to be honest, it was a really good beta testing idea.
It prevents spammers auto-registering a ton (if someone starts to invite a bunch of spam bots, you can easily trace and break the propagation chain) and prevented the server from being overloaded during the initial run.
From a Computer Science and Social Engineering standpoint, it was/is a good setup. Get over it.
STANDARDIZATION. They will be the FIRST IM service to use the IETF messaging and presence standard.
Remember the days back when Prodigy users couldn't email AOL users, and you coudln't email either from a university "internet email"
That is where we are now with IM.
Imagine if back then someone was whacky enough to make an email client which required an account from every major provider in order to email your friends, rather than simply everyone moving to the official smtp and mime standards.
That is where we are now with IM.
Google having an IM service should give the critical mass necessary to jabber for other IM services to investigate, and finally use it (at least bridged).
I yearn for the day when I have only 1 IM ID. People who like yahoo can use their client and YIM ID, people who run their own jabber server can use whatever client they want, etc. Hell, they can even run propriatary video conferencing/etc which require their own software for all I care as long as I can do simple messaging with anyone on any service.
I don't see what your point it?
In my opinion, using jabber in a mainstream IM client (ie, one that is going to be used by joe schmoe and susy ann in jr. high keyboarding class while the teacher isn't looking) is a dramatic step forward.
Google is competing head on with the services that yahoo, aol, and msn provide. Only they are doing it using open standards, and allowing 3rd party clients. From my perspective, this is equivilent of Google putting the rest on notice:
"Look, we aren't going to let you rape your users anymore. We are going to do what you do... Properly."
I think this is a great step forward. Sure, you might think it is a waste of time in the long run.. and you might be right. But something like this NEEDED to be done in order to get the other IM services to play fair. Everyone already knows that the other services would have never opened their protocols without something like this coming forward. The rest will be required to follow suit or bail out of the business. (you may not see it now, but it is coming.. just watch)
Your ignorance is infinitely greater than you realize.