Setting Up Google Talk

To get started using Google Talk point your browser to http://talk.google.com (see Figure 20.1). You can choose to see the Web page in your own language by selecting from the languages in the drop-down list in the upper-right corner of the page. This also takes you to the download of Google Talk in the same language. Click Download Google Talk to install a copy of Google Talk on your computer.

Figure 20.1: The Google Talk download page

Note 

When you click Download Google Talk, you automatically agree to the Terms of Service. Click the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy links above the button to read these terms and policies you are agreeing to follow.

After you download the Google Talk installation file to your computer (the file is named googletalk-setup.exe) open the file to launch the Google Talk installation program. When you agree to the terms (see the sidebar “The Terms”) installation starts (see Figure 20.2).

Figure 20.2: Google Talk client software installs after you agree to The Terms.

Click Finish to complete the Google Talk setup wizard. Google Talk will then launch on your computer.

The Terms

The first thing you are asked to do, having already agreed to follow the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy by clicking the download button, is agree to the Licensing Terms, which include agreeing to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy…again. You should read the terms yourself, but in brief it says that you can access this instant messaging service and voice calling service using any Open client, (Take that! AOL) or the Google Talk client program you just downloaded. If anything bad happens to you or your computer as a result of installing and using this client software, it’s not Google’s fault. You must be at least 13 years old to use the service and you can only use it for your personal use. The voice service can’t be used to make regular phone calls, not even emergency ones. Use the service only for legal purposes. Google can access and turn the content of your personal communications over to law enforcement officials if asked to do so. Again, if anything bad happens, Google isn’t responsible. Google owns all the intellectual property, including logos and stuff. You can’t resell the service. The program updates itself automatically making your computer part of the Google army of drones. Google can stop providing the service, and you can choose to uninstall Google Talk any time you like. Google can keep all the information it collects. If anyone sues Google because you did bad things with its service, you foot the bill. The limit for filing legal actions is one year regardless of any other statute of limitations that may be in force, and if you or anyone else decides to take legal action, it all gets to happen in lovely Santa Clara, California.