Hey Google, remember that Google Talk application you have? Yeah, the one that keeps getting ignored? You launched it back in 2005 and added a few features in 2006 (offline messaging and voice mailing), but since then it seems you’ve just forgotten about it. Now it looks like you’re focusing all of your efforts on Gmail Chat and the flash based Google Talk gadget for personalized homepages. Here we thought your next move would be a big update for Google Talk, but boy, were we wrong.
Imagine our disappointment this morning when we realized that you’ve added group chat and rich emoticons to none other than Gmail Chat. We’re more convinced than ever that you’ve simply forgotten about our favorite messaging service. Have you? Let this be your kind reminder that there are still lots of us who prefer the desktop application over the web app. The only thing we have that the others don’t is file sharing and voice communication… that’s it!
The new group chat feature in Gmail Chat sure is nice, and the selection of emoticons with two new styles is great too. It would be oh so nice to have those features in Google Talk, really. Please Google, give our favorite messaging service a little tender loving care… it’s in desperate need of it!
Hugs n’ Kisses…
Neglected Google Talk Fans
Source: Official Gmail Blog
Amen, sister. Sing out loud!
THANK YOU. I’ve been thinking the same thing!
Now we just have to hope that Google listens!
Big ditto too. Been thinking that they’ve completely forgotten about it for some time now.
Yeah!!!
Some of us prefer the desktop application that supports voice chat, and would love to see the new features in it too.
Please don’t forget about us Google.
Why not just use web site. I’ll take a web app over desktop app any day if it has good features. I uninstalled all desktop IM’s, and I can now use Y!Mail for IM w/ Y! and MSN users.
It’s a lot more difficult to know when someone sends a message when it’s all done within your browser. I also like having my chat windows displayed along the side of my browser so that it is easier to switch back and forth.
Absolutely! I want to see group chat, smilies, and Reader & Calendar notifications in the GTalk desktop app, please.
I don’t like having to leave Gmail open in a tab, and as Ryan mentioned, it’s more difficult to see when someone has sent a message. It’s just a matter of preference, I suppose. I’d take Google Talk over Gmail Chat any day.
I heartily agree and have been thinking this ever since the gadget got the YouTube integration. GTalk needs love, and transports to allow us to talk to people on Messenger.
chill out! they are still developing it…. google has so many things on their plate its simply amazing. i think the thing to consider here is that they purchased grand central, and are probably working on integrating that somehow into android and googletalk. we’ll probably see a slew of new releases with phone addons sometime next year…
Totally agree! I wish they would add https + multiple account support to GTalk and GNotifier as well. The latter application has been neglected for far too long too.
Man, I had forgotten that the Flash gadget even has the YouTube integration. Google Talk itself is looking worse and worse.
But do they have too much on their plate then? They have so many different projects that they are obviously having a tough time keeping up with them all.
Multiple account support is one of my most requested features as well. I have several Gmail accounts, and I have to use an external app to track new messages on all of them. Maybe if they just broadened Google Talk to support multiple networks/connections then that would solve a lot of the user’s complaints.
Let’s not forget that no company does something out of the goodness of their heart. Google wants us to open Gmail as much as possible so they can get more advertising money. They have probably figured out that serving ads in Google Talk wouldn’t go over too well either.
That’s a really good point. By adding all of these features to Gmail they are pushing more people to keep Gmail open more often.