Google And Instant Messaging?

Instant messaging is incredibly popular and continues to grow in popularity. Some suggest that Google should seriously consider it because the metrics would certainly warrant that consideration. Trillian by Cerulean studios might work well, similar to the approach they've used for GoogleNews. If they could integrate a VoIP feature into it on top of all the other standard features, it would be an extraordinarily sharp product. Perhaps even Google could buy Cerulean outright to pick up the all encompassing aspect. The only real caveat I see at this point is that might not fit entirely into Google's way of doing things. They've not really tapped into broadband service deals, online call and other telecommunications features the other companies have. The only thing they really have right now in that line is Gmail. The other is that not only Google but any search based company might do well to partner on something like this. MSN, AOL and Yahoo all have IM and it certainly do well for them. For those companies building their business like Ask Jeeves and others, a way to get more competitive may be to partner with another company and get your label up there too. In many people's eyes, Google is walking a fine line between being a portal and a pure, all encompassing search engine (which is their goal). Adding something like instant messaging could certainly provide them with a whole new source of revenue, which is the name of the game for any business. John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.