Last Wednesday, Google released a beta version of its instant messaging (IM) and VOIP client, Google Talk. Available for Windows only, unable to communicate directly with users of other IM services such as MSN Messenger and AOL IM and less advanced than Skype, it would be easy to discharge Google Talk as an 'also-ran'. Looking closer, however, Google Talk seems to have a lot of potential, partially due to its use of open standards.
Google Talk's IM functionality is based on the Jabber/XMPP protocol, an open messaging standard. This will allow Google Talk to build critical mass fast as its users can exchange messages with users of other Jabber/XMPP based IM services such as iChat (Apple) and GAIM (Linux). And where IM clients such as GAIM already allow for the exchange of messages with the MSN and AOL networks, it is not at all unlikely that future versions of Google Talk will offer such functionality as well. This would result in a level playing field where competition is not tied to the size of its user group (value of the network). By the way, note that Skype's IM service does not allow for exchange of messages with other IM networks at all.
Also the VOIP part of Google Talk is based on open standards, namely SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). Where Skype is using its own proprietary protocol, Google Talk users in the future will be able to 'call' users on other SIP-based VOIP networks. This would certainly give it a leg up on Skype, where users can only call other Skype users (PC-to-PC). SkypeIn and SkypeOut (still in beta), however, allow these users to call out to regular PSTN users and have people call them on their Skype number from regular PSTN phones respectively. In the future Google Talk is believed to offer similar PC-to-PSTN calling as well, especially as this is where Skype is making most of its money.
By conincidence or in response to Google Talk, Skype published some APIs this week, allowing developers to integrate Skype's IM and VOIP services into their own applications. By doing so, it basically 'opens' up its proprietary platform a little, without the necessity to give full insight in its workings nor having to go through the efforts of establishing a new (open) standard.
Hence, it will be interesting to see whether the use of open standards can help Google to overcome Skype's first mover advantage. Although being very secretive about its strategic plans, Google, the highest new entrant in BusinessWeek's 2005 Global Brand Top 100 at nr. 38, seems to be after domination on the internet. To be continued....
Google Talk's IM functionality is based on the Jabber/XMPP protocol, an open messaging standard. This will allow Google Talk to build critical mass fast as its users can exchange messages with users of other Jabber/XMPP based IM services such as iChat (Apple) and GAIM (Linux). And where IM clients such as GAIM already allow for the exchange of messages with the MSN and AOL networks, it is not at all unlikely that future versions of Google Talk will offer such functionality as well. This would result in a level playing field where competition is not tied to the size of its user group (value of the network). By the way, note that Skype's IM service does not allow for exchange of messages with other IM networks at all.
Also the VOIP part of Google Talk is based on open standards, namely SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). Where Skype is using its own proprietary protocol, Google Talk users in the future will be able to 'call' users on other SIP-based VOIP networks. This would certainly give it a leg up on Skype, where users can only call other Skype users (PC-to-PC). SkypeIn and SkypeOut (still in beta), however, allow these users to call out to regular PSTN users and have people call them on their Skype number from regular PSTN phones respectively. In the future Google Talk is believed to offer similar PC-to-PSTN calling as well, especially as this is where Skype is making most of its money.
By conincidence or in response to Google Talk, Skype published some APIs this week, allowing developers to integrate Skype's IM and VOIP services into their own applications. By doing so, it basically 'opens' up its proprietary platform a little, without the necessity to give full insight in its workings nor having to go through the efforts of establishing a new (open) standard.
Hence, it will be interesting to see whether the use of open standards can help Google to overcome Skype's first mover advantage. Although being very secretive about its strategic plans, Google, the highest new entrant in BusinessWeek's 2005 Global Brand Top 100 at nr. 38, seems to be after domination on the internet. To be continued....
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