TABLE OF CONTENTS To remain competitive, a corporation must leverage technology to improve communication and productivity. In this context, the benefit of instant-messaging technology is evident. Instant-messaging clients such as Google Talk allow coworkers to quickly share and discuss ideas without the overhead of email and without the socially entrapping walk to a coworker s cubicle. When implemented properly, Google Talk and Google Mail can improve productivity and foster better communication, especially for employees who travel and work offsite.
In this chapter, we discuss how workplaces can easily implement Google Talk into their environments to improve their overall productivity. Conversely, some companies still hold to the old idea that Google Talk traffic should be blocked; we discuss how this can be accomplished.
As a member of a proud, forward-looking enterprise that wants to implement the greatest IM client ever created, I welcome you to this section. Through its simplified design and interface, Google Talk allows users to concentrate on only one thing: discussion. There are no advertisements, pop-ups, or other distractions that weigh down other IM services. The overall effect is a client that lends itself very well to business environments.
When deciding to implement Google Talk into your network, you must separately configure its two different versions: the Google Talk standalone client and the Web-based client built into the Google Mail service.
The Google Talk client, downloaded from http://talk.google.com, is the preferred client for use in a business environment. It...
