Googles VoIP Aspirations
Posted on February 12, 2007 By: Mike, VoIP Facts: The Blog email author
Filed Under Articles
Google has built its own peer to peer network, called Google Talk, based on the open source XMPP/Jabber protocol. Still in the beta phase, Google Talk at this time resembles a barebones IM chat, voice, and file sharing client, but is reportedly working on adding new services and functionality in the general release. Currently, calls can be made in network or between other Jabber servers only, and since the beta version does not support the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), voice calls are not encrypted end to end.
While voice calls can be made simply through your computers speakers and a microphone, Google recommends using a headset for call clarity. There are also handsets available that support the client for Google Talk.
Just what plans Google has for this new application is the subject of much discussion. Early in 2005 it was reported that Google was buying up mass quantities of “dark fiber”, in essence giving them the ability to build their own fiber optic network, but to date nothing has been done with it. They have also been cuddling up to voice over IP service provider VoIP Inc., a company that could help them go off network to the PSTN, and deliver services such as E911 and virtual phone numbers. Is anyone seeing a pattern here?
Being the search engine that it is, Google says it is also working on the technology to make audio files searchable. If successful, this could open up a Pandora’s Box of legal and regulatory issues.
As a peer to peer VoIP, chat, and file sharing network, Google Talk is no Skype, but to be fair, the app is still in its infancy. What seems to be clear, depending on whom you talk to, is that they see an opportunity in the inevitable IP telephony revolution, and are positioning themselves to become a player in that market.
For more information on Google Talk, read the article Google Enters the Peer to Peer VoIP Arena.
Google Talk, voip, peer to peer VoIP, IP telephony, telecommunication
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It seems as if everyone’s jumping onto the VoIP bandwagon. Telephone companies, Google, networking companies, etc. You name it. VoIP seems to be bridging the gap between a lot of companies. Can’t help but think about what corporate mergers we might see from this.
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