Google Talk on Blackberry -- my application of the week

Launched back in March 2006, Google Talk for Blackberry changed my perspective on mobile instant messaging forever. For a long time I thought the application was programmed by Google — however I later found it was the brain surgeons at Blackberry who developed it. And boy, what a job they did. It is, without a doubt, the best example I’ve ever seen of mobile instant messaging integrated into a handset.

Within days of it becoming available, my colleague Keith in Canada and I were nattering away to each other across continents, without computers. Not entirely amazing in itself — but it was the simplicity of use that I found to staggering. I was, finally, always-on.

I can’t list the amount of times this application has saved me. Previously, I had to open up my laptop, find an internet connection and then start an IM conversation. (I know there are other applications out there — but none with such tight integration) Having Google Talk always on and always with me, via the Blackberry, changed my life. I was able to go and have lunch when I wanted to. I was able to, for example, go shopping during work hours — safe in the knowledge that I could answer client queries as long as I had a signal.

I was even able to go on holiday. I have Google-Talked-via-Blackberry all across Europe, the States and even as far east as Indonesia. Many a time, particularly when we were running Impulse and I was in different cities every day, the application was brilliantly useful for talking with people back at the office when I didn’t have a net connection.

Here’s an example of the tight integration:

(Image via Wikipedia)

What’s more, responses from people pop up in your Blackberry Inbox so you never miss a conversation. If you know how to use a Blackberry, you can use Google Talk on it. My father routinely uses it throughout his business day as, I’m sure, do many others.

If you’d like it for your Blackberry, get it here. (You need to use Internet Explorer in order for it to work).

Pure genius.

We have, by the way, launched an Application of the Week panel — would you like to join? More info.