Google Talk may be able to communicate with Skype in the future

[wanghx]

期待。google talk - gtalk server 的通信是加密的（XMPP 支持 SASL 安全认证, TLS 加密）。gmail webmail 的 chat message 和 gtalk 互通，如果通过 https 访问 gmail，web browser - gmail server 间通信也是加密的。gmail server - gtalk server 间通信不知安全度如何。

gtalk message 在 gtalk server 上，以及 gtalk server - XMPP server 之间，都是明文，不加密。这对于普通的应用，并不是大问题。simplite 有支持 gtalk (Jabber / XMPP) 的版本，以实现完全的端到端全程加密。但是我试用没有成功。

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gtalk
Future releases

Google reports that they are working on adding new features such as supporting SIP in a future release, which would broaden the userbase for the program.^[19]

Additionally as part of Google's and eBay's Multi-Year Agreement on August 28, 2006, it was announced that the companies will look into making Google Talk users able to communicate with Skype: "The companies will also explore interoperability between Skype and Google Talk via open standards to enable text chat and online presence.".^[20]

[wanghx]

http://www.google.com/talk gtalk has a macromedia flash based web
client, supporting group chat. skype still doesn't have official web
client, which is a big limitation. Seems the web flash client of gtalk
only supports text chat, but not voice chat. It launches gtalk desktop
client to handle the voice chat. But a web client is good for roaming
users, such as in hotels. Gtalk functions are limited (no group chat, no
video chat, no audio conference) compared to other popular im software.
but its interface is neat, and supports free voicemail to gmail.