Google to close down instant messaging service Google Talk

Google is pulling the plug on its instant messaging service Talk also known as GChat.

Even though Google migrated users from Talk to Hangout in 2017, yet it was available to third-party XMPP clients like Pidgin and Gajim.

“We’re winding down Google Talk. On June 16, 2022, we'll end our support for third-party apps, including Pidgin and Gajim, as we announced in 2017,” the company said in a blogpost.

By any chance if there are users using Google Talk, the company recommends to switch to Google Chat.

“To continue to chat with your contacts, we recommend using Google Chat. You can more easily plan with others, share and collaborate on files, and assign tasks with Chat's enhanced Spaces feature. You also have the same strong phishing protections we build in Gmail and accessibility features like screen reader support,” it added.

Google Talk was the company’s original instant messaging service which was brought out for quick conversations between Gmail contacts but it quickly became larger and later was being replaced by newer services.

Google talk came into being in 2005 through which users can send instant messages directly through Gmail. Later it branched to voice and video calls an also furnished group chats. The company discontinued the service in 2017 to bolster Hangouts, a messaging service introduced in 2014.

Google Talk worked as an application across Android devices and Blackberry as well.

Google Hangout was the replacement app for Talk at that time. Hangout is also a passe now with Google chat as the major replacement for instant messaging through your Google account.

In other update, Google said that its Maps feature will now enable users to estimate toll charges for their trips.

“To help make the choice between toll roads and regular roads easier, we’re rolling out toll prices on Google Maps for the first time,” the company said in a blogpost.

“You will have the option within settings to show toll prices with or without having a toll pass--as in many geographies the price changes based on the payment method you use. You will also still have the option to avoid routes crossing toll roads entirely, if possible, by selecting ‘Avoid tolls’ within settings,” it added.