Google introduces new video chat

GOOGLE has introduced a new video chat, Gmail Video and Voice, which offers Webcam-based video conferencing. The new feature, which is availbale to all Gmail users free of charge, was rolled on Tuesday. Gmail Video and Voice requires a browser plug in and either a microphone, used for straight audio chatting or a Webcam, for video and audio chatting.

The plug-in – a proprietary, non-Flash-based system — runs about 2MB and supports Crhome, Firefox 2.0+, Internet Explorer 7.0, and Safari 3.0. As of now, the video chat service will not be made available within the standalone Google Talk application. Once the plug-in is installed, the user is required to click on a contact within their Gmail Chat list.

If the receiver also has the required software, a camera icon will pop up next to their name, enabling the user to initiate a two-way multimedia session. Even without the hardware, the receiver can still start a one-way session in which they will be able to see and hear their colleagues, even if you can’t see and hear them. The service was expected to be fully rolled out to all Gmail users by the end of Tuesday. The technology comes fromGoogle’s acquisition of video conferencing software by Marratech last year in 2007.

ITnewsAfrica.com, Johannesburg