An Introduction to Google Talk

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Google Talk is a Google App that is a great tool to use to communicate with your Google Contacts. In contrast to Google Chat within Gmail, Google Talk is a desktop program, and allows users to not only instant message with their contacts, but to call them and voice chat with them as well. Currently, Google Talk is only available for Windows computers. Signing In

To sign into Google Apps for Education,

1. Go to http://go.uis.edu/google 2. Select Continue. Log in with your NetID and password.

3. In the browser, enter http://www.talk.google.com.

Installing Google Talk

1. After entering http://www.talk.google.com into your browser, you will come to a page allowing you to download two different items; one is a video and voice plug-in for chatting within Gmail, and the other is Google Talk software. Click Download Google Talk.

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2. Click Save File.

3. Select Run.

4. Agree to Google’s license agreement.

5. After the installation has finished, Google Talk will be installed on your computer. The following screen will popup, prompting you to log-in with your Username and Password.

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Google Talk Interface and Customization

All your contacts appear as listed with their status icon on the left (available, busy, idle). If they have the Phone icon, you can call them.

Click Add to add contacts, and view Check your Gmail, as well as missed calls to sort the way you see your contacts

1. To customize your Google Talk settings, select the settings link at the top of the Google Talk screen.

2. Under settings, users can customize how their chats are archived, block users, specify how they are notified of chats and calls, customize audio, and customize the appearance of their chats.

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3. To update your status or sign out of Google Talk, click the dropdown arrow next to your status. Here, you can change your status, add a message or even add a music track. If you would like to sign out of Google Talk, select Sign out.

4. If you’d like to update your picture or image of your Google Talk icon, click the dropdown arrow next to your picture. Select from the icons available, or if you’d like to upload an image from your own computer, select More pictures.

Chatting and Emailing

1. If you would like to chat one of your contacts that are available, simply click their name and enter your chat in the empty text box. Press enter to send your chat.

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2. Another way to communicate with your contacts is to roll your mouse over their name, and then various options will appear. Click Chat to begin a chat, or the dropdown arrow to access other options such as sending an Email, Files, or Voicemail.

*Note: When you receive a chat, it will appear in the bottom right hand of your screen in any program you may be accessing.

Making a Call 1. To make a call, roll your mouse over the contact you wish to call, and select Call.

2. When they answer, you will be able to voicechat with them, provided you have a microphone. To end the call, click End Call.

3. When someone is calling you, a box will appear prompting you to either Answer or Ignore the call.

Sending a Voicemail 1. If you wish to send a contact a voicemail, simply select Send voicemail.

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Sending Files 1. To send files to a contact, select Send Files from the top of the chat screen if it is an option, or from the dropdown arrow.

2. Browse through your documents for the file you wish to share. After selecting the file, it will appear in the chat window as shared with your contact. Note: You can also send links to YouTube videos, and the videos will play directly in the chat box!

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