Gmail is still rolling out the new features. I've been appreciative but somewhat underwhelmed about some of the features we've seen from Gmail in the past few days, but these new changes appear to be part of Gmail's larger plans to offer more integration options with existing networks, and generally take on a more open attitude. They're also building nicely on Gmail's existing changes this week, and it's nice to see all the new features continue to unfold.
Now some are seeing Jabber (on which GTalk is based) transports for their Gmail chat options, which lets you talk with others from various instant messaging clients. As many of you know, Jabber already enables you to talk with friends from Yahoo Messenger, MSN and AIM, and of course GTalk. But with Google's new inclusion, you can be logged in to Gmail, and chat with friends from these other networks directly.
This not only lessens the immediate need for Google to improve its own chat services, but provides a world of easy and instant options for Gmail users, turning your Google instant messenger into a party. Some of you will also notice that the new contact manager from Gmail lets you enter in the usernames of friends from multiple instant messaging networks. Nice.
[via download squad]
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