• November 12, 2008

Google launched Gmail voice and video chat on Tuesday, which allows users around the world to chat in high-quality video for free within Gmail.

With a webcam and a small web browser plugin, Gmail voice and video chat allows both PC and Mac users to start a video chat without switching to another application or signing up for another account. Those without a webcam can simply chat by voice. Google promises that it's easy enough that "your mom -- or your employees -- will actually use it."

Video chatting has been available through the instant messaging services offered by Yahoo and Microsoft, but the feature isn't available in their free e-mail applications. The Google system only works if all users have Gmail accounts.--Tanya Irwin