A major update comes to the Android version of Google Talk.
Now, instead of just being able to send text-based IMs to fellow Google Talk users, the app is as functional as the full PC version of the program.
In the newly updated app, users will see video and voice chat options next to each name in their contact list. The video feature is designed to work for phones that have a front-facing camera, but all of them will be able to take advantage of the voice chatting feature.
Just like the recently updated Skype app, this allows users to talk with friends directly through their phone, but without using any of their plan minutes. Instead, all the voice content is transmitted through the phone’s data network.
Users can continue using the app for instant messaging just as always, and even when in video chat mode, there is an option to have text chatting appear in a separate box under the video screen.
Right now, the update is available for a handful of Nexus S users. “Google Talk with video and voice chat will gradually roll out to [all] Nexus S devices in the next few weeks as part of the Android 2.3.4 over-the-air update and will launch on other Android 2.3+ devices in the future,” wrote Google in a blog post.
