Google on Tuesday took the wraps off its instant-messaging entry, a program that allows text chat as well as computer-to-computer voice chat.
Google Talk appears to be based on the Jabber open-source standard, which would allow consumers to connect with other IM systems that work with Jabber. Google's site also said a Gmail account was necessary to use Google Talk.
The company's moves are a further sign of its ambitions to dominate search in the face of growing competition from rivals Yahoo, AOL and MSN. The reports come one day after Google rolled out a beta version of its free desktop software, Desktop 2, that includes a personalized toolbar dubbed "Sidebar" for accessing e-mail, stock quotes and news, as well as a scratch pad for taking notes and tools for searching the desktop and Microsoft Outlook in-box.
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