Google Talk Now Integrated In Outlook

Following Outlook.com’s recent Skype integration, Microsoft is turning its integration focus to Google services today. Google Talk, an instant messaging service for text and audio, is being integrated directly into Outlook.com – Microsoft’s refreshed webmail service. Unlike Google’s Gmail, Outlook.com lets you chat across multiple services and build your contacts list from various social channels, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Starting today, you’ll be able chat with your Google Talk contacts within the web portal, directly from your Outlook.com inbox, SkyDrive app, or calendar. Your Google contacts will join the same messenger list that features Facebook friends and Skype contacts.

Dharmesh Mehta, senior director of Outlook.com, said his team is focused on making Outlook.com as productive as possible and ensuring it’s a personalized experience. That’s where your Google contacts fit in.

For now, only text messaging is supported, though Mehta says that they’re aware users want audio and video chat support as well, and that’s something they will be willing to talk to them about.

It is very simple to start using Google Talk from within Outlook.com. Users simply need to connect their Google Accounts with Microsoft’s webmail service and they’ll be good to go.

Microsoft says that Google Talk integration will be completely rolled out worldwide over the next couple of days.

Source: ubergizmo.com, theverge.com