Google Phone Home - For Free


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To the everyday user who has used GoogleTalk and has another IM on his or her desktop, GoogleTalk looks like a amateur hour attempt at jumping in the IM arena already populated by the goliaths of AOL, Yahoo, and dare I say Skype. The one thing though many forget about this under-rated IM is that GoogleTalk is not called GoogleChat. There is simply no reason to create yet another way to “chat” on the Internet. This is why GoogleTalk adopted Jabber so they could be open with everyone and not create yet another standard. So why did Google even release an IM client? You have to look at the bigger picture for Google. Google makes profit by selling ads and content on the Internet, and to understand where they are going is to understand where their technology can help customers find businesses and content. So what is their plan? Google is looking to grow off of your PC and into your everyday life. They would like to be on your cell phone, on your PDA, on your car radio, and on your TV. This brings us back to GoogleTalk, its no secret that the price of a phone call is desperately low nowadays. With Google’s acquisitions into audio ads how much would it take for them to create audio ad sponsored free phone calls via your home phone, GoogleTalk, or your cell phone. Cell phone? you gasp? Yes cell phone. If you are a cell provider do you really care where your dollars come from, Joe Shmo customer, or Google? Its only a matter of time before ad sponsored phone calls are a way of life for those not willing to pay for that phone call. Before you big brother freak, out keep in mind a scenario where you call out for pizza that would cost $22 delivered and before you place your order are presented by a better more attractive offer at a lower price before you place the call. Or having all of the same contacts you use on your home phone, Gmail, cell phone, and GoogleTalk? Then there is the no roaming, free chat via SMS or Jabber, and streaming audio and music via your Google cell phone or GoogleTalk. So one day you might just use Google to phone home, however your call home may be presented by the new Pontiac, something to think about when you drive home in your old Pontiac.

Read more posts by Christopher Carey

August 28, 2006 | Filed Under Technical 

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