Google Talk, the latest offering from the Internet search provider is squaring the firm up to the likes of Yahoo!, AOL and Microsoft MSN's current products by creating a unique open platform on the web for voice calls as opposed to the 'closed' messaging systems used by their rivals.

Google Talk is a downloadable Windows application that enables users to quickly and easily talk or send instant messages to their friends for free. Calls are made through the user's computer using the latest voice technology; all the user needs is an Internet connection, a microphone and a speaker. To start using the product, one must download Google Talk and sign in with their Gmail id. Users can talk to contacts by clicking on a 'call' button in an open chat window or click on the phone icon next to names on the contact list. A user can also have multiple voice sessions open but only one can be active at any given time.

Thanks to the multipoint integration users will be able to access their Gmail inbox from within the interface and send e-mails from there. It will also alert users about new messages received in their Gmail account. The users' Gmail contacts will be loaded automatically into their Google Talk interface, making it possible to exchange instant messages with those who have downloaded the IM software. 

Google Talk is built on an XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) framework, which could make the software more attractive to developers than rival networks built on proprietary protocols.  It can be accessed through Jabber clients pointing to the talk.google.com server and using a valid Gmail login.

Google Talk is currently available only in English. It isn't possible to switch the interface language as of now, but Google does have these plans in the anvil.

With more and more products entering the market, there hasn't been a better time for users! To figure out how well Google Talk will serve its worth, keep watching this space.