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Google has added the voice and video chat interface on Gmail. The move was long due and the company was working on it for more than a year.

Google’s Sweden-based engineering group has developed the feature which allows the users to check their mails and chat and interact with their friends at the same time. The feature is designed using Internet standards such as XMPP, RTP, and H.264. The process is quite simple as a user just has to download a plug in but a Webcam has to be attached to the computer (Google is offering some on discounted rates)

Here is a video of the new app

Here are my two cents on this feature; Although the company has finally introduced the audio/video chat options but it will only work if both the parties are online. If Google can introduce an option of recording short video or audio offline messages (Just like offline messages in MSN and Yahoo messengers) then the application will sell like hot cakes. Incorporating email, video and audio sharing is a great innovation but we expect more from the innovation giant.