[Steve]

Is this the next Skype alternative... Google Talk.

According to the blurb...

If you haven't tried the service yet, here are 5 good reasons to give it a try:

* now anyone can use the service (Gmail accounts no longer required)
* free and crystal clear voice calls to your friends and family anywhere in the world
* transfer files and folders to others
* free voicemail messages (MEEP!)
* IM from your BlackBerry

Just sign up, invite some friends, and you can be chatting with them in minutes. There are millions of people around the world to chat with! There are, however, still some features including chat histories and mail notifications that will only work if you sign into Google Talk with a Gmail account. Either way, we encourage you to give it a try.

Google Talk

Anyone already given this a try and if so was/is it any good.

Do you think it will take off for Google or is it a little to late for the big boy to be dipping his toe in this market?

[Markulous]

As a Skype and MSN user, find that they deal with all that I need, so difficult to see what Google Talk brings to the party (and I'm already a fairly prodigious GMail user).

And yes, I'm a big fan of VOIP - partly the zero cost but mainly (strangely) the crystal clear quality (plus add ing Chat to the conversation). Now if Skype could just trim the resources it feels it needs..............

But, having said that, VOIP is going to get bigger, so no harm in others being involved

[Steve]

I think thats the problem. Skype might be a bit resource hungry but it does work. Free calls and chat that (in general) is crystal clear and works has been a great boon for me over the last couple of years. Skype already have a good foot hold but the VOIP arena is definately going to grow and with google's massive resources I would imagine they will make a substantial dent into it.

I think they will catch the new takers but existing users may be hader to get to switch?