Google Me One More Time

Today Google released a beta version of their own instant messaging service. I just downloaded a copy of it and tried it out, and I am happy to say that the first impressions are very good. Google IM has taken the "simpler is better" approach and I think they have got a winner here. Also being a user of Yahoo IM and MSN Messenger, I have seen each subsequent version of their software become more bloated than Barney Gumbel after drinking himself into a stupor at Moe's. They've added more and more features to their software, and the experience has become less and less about IM, and more about stuff that really doesn't matter (launchcast, stock quotes, avatars...)

Google has really got something here, but they fight an uphill battle for marketshare as the other IM Clients already have masses of loyal users. If you are curious about this new application, you can download a copy of the beta here. All you need to get going is a gmail address and password. Happy IM'ing!