Google

What is Google Talk?

Google talk is an instant messaging (IM) program that allows you to communicate instantly, in real time, with other Google Talk users.

Why are we using Google Talk?

Simply put? Convenience. By using Google Talk, we can see our colleagues online, no matter where they are located. This is especially useful if someone is off-site – either away at a conference, home sick, or has an off campus office. By using Google Talk, we can still instantly communicate as if the person were sitting in our office. Also, during peak times (like registration), when phone lines are typically busy with calls from students, we can still communicate. This also helps to keep the phone lines open for outside calls.

What features are offered through Google Talk?

Google Talk offers many features to all our users, including:

• IM – instant messaging. Type messages in real time to other users for instant delivery. No waiting on email.

• File Sharing – share a file with another user through a chat window. There are no file extension, size, or bandwidth restrictions.

• VOIP – Call computer to computer. Use the “Call” feature to call other users and communicate via microphone and speakers to one another.

• Status – View other users’ status’ to see if they are gone to lunch, in their office, or on the phone – status messages are customizable so it is easy to let everyone know if you are available or unavailable.

• Group Chats – Chat with a group by inviting more than one person to a chat box. This is great if you want to have a meeting with others who may be off campus.

• Privacy – Chats are not recorded. • Contact list – Pre-populated contact list makes it easy to add contacts to chat with.

• Mobility – Sign on to Google Talk from any computer to chat with your colleagues.

Other Google Products

There are other Google Products that are offered to education for free that we are investigating. These include Email, Google Documents (allows sharing of word and excel documents and group collaboration), Google Calendar, Google Sites (for creating collaborative web sites), and Google Video. You can see these products at this link.