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December 26, 2006

2007: Google Talk Phone Calls, Offline Google Docs

Google launched many applications in the last 2 years, but most of them had too few features (Google Talk) or they were under-promoted (Google Docs & Spreadsheets).

In 2007, things will change. David Girouard, VP and General Manager at Google Enterprise, told Internetnews.com that Google Talk will include many new features and will become a true VoIP client. "Girouard said that Google Talk, which currently allows users to make VoIP calls among themselves, will be beefed up to integrate with traditional phone systems as well as VoIP offerings from other vendors."

Google's social network could also receive an upgrade. Google "may use the fruits of its acquisitions of Web 2.0 companies such as wiki-builder Jotspot and social-networking site orkut to build the framework for a collaboration platform".

Products like Google Docs & Spreadsheets are sometimes faced with the problem of Internet access. Google wants to fix that, at least for enterprise users, by giving them access to their data when they're offline. In 2007, Google will add new features to Google Docs & Spreadsheets and will try to make it a real option for consumers and small businesses. "This year has been about getting our toe in the water. [Next year] will be about taking a lot more steps forward."

10 comments:

  1. "...are sometimes faced with the problem of Internet access. Google wants to fix that, at least for enterprise users, by giving them access to their data when they're offline."

    That's excellent. I am very interested in seeing how they will achieve that. "What happens when I can't connect?" is a question every web-app developer gets asked repeatedly. If google can solve the problem elegantly we could see a real increase in use of web-apps for critical applications.

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  2. I'm very happy to hear the Google Talk news - it's been quite a while since there's been a significant update to the program, and being able to telephone landlines will be fantastic. It also looks like the integration with Skype and AOL is still on track, which is very good to hear! Can't wait to see it :-)

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  3. Супер!
    Google добавит Docs с приложения для домена. Это то что я с нетерпением жду.

    [ Translation:

    Super!
    Google should add Docs to Apps for Your Domain. This is what I look forward to. ]

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  4. Have you ever used Google Talk to talk to someone living overseas??
    The quality is very poor and I don't see how this service can take off.

    By Freelance Programmer

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  5. great!! well i hope google release killer apps next yr. just like gmail a couple of years ago.

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  6. in fact i have used google to make overseas calls, for one year from korea to north america. the quality was fantastic and often more reliable than skype. you should give it another try.

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  7. I frequently use Google Talk to speak to family in Spain and it's always been just as good as talking to someone at home in the UK. Can't wait to be able to call landlines on it!

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  8. I m a student studying in california and use SKYPE to make calls to my family back in switzerland for just euro 0.021…its good to hear that goggle is planning to be hands with skype for its true(voip) "google talk"..I have enjoyed calling thru skype and its other voice,sms,conferencing services....its truly fantastic

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