At last, Google launched its AV chat feature. After having used enough with Yahoo messenger, it has been a long time we had started looking for video conferencing feature with Google. Of late, hope you have started the beta testing of GVideo chat inside your gmail account. But still, it is undeniable that Google makes a difference over others. And their products are different because it works through the Web browser, said Keith Coleman, product manager for Gmail. “This is one of those things that is very subtle and very simple, but I think can change the way you communicate and the way you work,” Coleman said in an interview. “It’s very easy to have these very fast, fluid conversations.”

How it works…

As simple as this! Users can chat for free using Gmail by installing a small add-on program to their browser. All you have to do is just, download and install the voice and video plug-in. Internet standards such as XMPP, RTP, and H.264, which means that third-party applications and networks can choose to interoperate with Gmail voice and video chat.

Once you install the plug-in, to start a video chat, just click on the “Video & more” menu at the bottom of your Gmail chat window, and choose “Start video chat.” You’ll have a few seconds to make sure you look presentable while it’s ringing, and then you’ll see and hear your friend live, right from within Gmail. You can click the “pop-out” icon to make the video larger, or click the fullscreen icon in the upper left-hand corner for a fully immersive experience.

Going the business way….

Being able to switch from email to chat as needed, all within the same application, is really great for productivity. Google aims to capitalise on the growing popularity of videoconferencing, which consumers use to chat with friends and companies rely on to reduce travel costs and connect employees in multiple locations. The videoconferencing feature is also available to users of Google Apps, the company’s set of online applications, which includes word-processing and spreadsheet software.

Yahoo’s messenger had been the popular ever since. And Microsoft already offers videoconferencing through its Windows Live instant-messaging software. Companies from Hewlett-Packard Co. to Cisco Systems Inc. also offer corporate videoconferencing products. Now, use it in your own Gmail!

As far as the browser is concerned, the new features are supported in Chrome, Firefox versions 2.0 and higher, Internet Explorer 7 and up, and Safari 3.0.