Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Google launches Talk service

Google launched its own instant messaging service this week incorporating the ability to talk directly to your contacts as if they were in the same room. It doesn't yet have breakout ability like Skype - to call traditional phone numbers from your computer- , no doubt, it will come soon.
To use the service - which is in Beta stage at the moment, you must already have a Gmail account.
(If you need a Gmail account, please email me.
nodenet[at]gmail.com )

At the present time it will not directly interact with AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo or any of the other instant messaging services. It is based on Jabber opensource technology which does allow interaction between all the differant services.

The interesting thing is the instant talk which will provide direct competition for telecoms companies, seeing that Google's user base is so large. Every move that Google does is so widely reported that they barely have to advertise. For how much longer will the pay-per-call model work for telecommunications.

I would sell my shares in telecoms billing software companies if I had any!

The new client can be downloaded here

It looks like this

Friday, August 19, 2005

Guide to current UK mobile phones

Found this great site for mobile phone shopping in UK. Very quick, good prices and comparison features. It is called Onestopphoneshop - 'naff name' but surprisingly good well designed webshop. Very commercial and to the point. I like it!

Just click on the following logos!












Friday, August 12, 2005

MSN Messenger release new version

MSN have released a new version of Messenger that incorporates live video and audio conversation like Netmeeting used to do. Communicate with mobile devices, share files, push webpages,this looks like being a serious competitor to Skype, and the other VOIP companies out there. MSN already has a high customer base for this product with all its installed user base of school kids and share traders.

This might be the basis for Microsoft's response to Yahoo and Google in the upcoming battles for portal control. Microsoft has realised that use of the internet does not have to be html browser based. A html browser can easily be incorporated into the client program. The battle is going to be won by the company that organises our desktops in the most useful and easy to use way.

Try it out here!


I had to update this blog entry seeing as there is an even newer version available in beta version. It is called Windows Live Messenger and is available here.
This version is a fully blown social networking application that will be a serious challenge to Facebook et al.