The voice chat and instant messaging client from Google has been implemented as a Flash-based application, usable from any web browser that supports Flash.
One way to get an application to run on multiple platforms is to adapt it to a technology like Flash, since Macromedia has created Flash players for operating systems besides Windows. Linux and Mac users can join in the Google Talk fun by trying out Gtalkr.
Om Malik pointed out this application on his blog. Gtalkr exists in beta right now, and Malik was able to get some details about future development of the service from Gtalkr’s CEO:
We’re planning on adding extensions that will have integration with del.icio.us, flickr, and other web-based services. The current set of default extensions in Gtalkr are Yahoo! maps which is Flash-based thanks to Yahoo!, a To do list implementation, and a Buddy Pounce implementation which is the example implementation that we’ll share with other developers. With some modifications, the news reader could be brought back as an extension to Gtalkr.
The extensions mentioned appear in the Gtalkr interface once a user logs in to the client. Developers who want to create extensions for Gtalkr can learn more from Gtalkr’s guide online.
From the Gtalkr home page, users with an existing Gmail account can login and start using the service. The interface displays the user’s contact list from Gmail, and the first six emails from the Gmail inbox. Options to invite others to chat, check the chat or Gmail inboxes, or search Gtalkr or the web can be found at the top of the page.
Windows users can download a Gtalkr Notifier to alert them new IMs and Gmail messages arrive; the Notifier sits in the system tray. A Mac version of the Notifier is in the works.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
