Google has launched a Web browser plug-in that will entail G-mail users to conduct video and voice chat sessions with other suitably equipped members of the G-mail community. The subscribers of G-mail can speak with their friends on a video screen and simultaneously instant message them in a Google Chat window.

G-mail is regarded as one of the most popular Web-based e-mail applications available and with the new feature being added to its kitty, it is definitely going to give other services run for their money.

The most significant aspect of this feature is that it does not require software likeother service providers with the same feature. In G-mail, this runs in a web browser alongside e-mail and the service supports Macs and PCs on all G-Mail-supported browsers and only takes a few clicks to set up.

In order to access G-mail Video and Voice chat, users have to just install the voice and video plug-in and the rest, as they say, is to be taken care of by Google.

The plug-in requires an Intel-based computer running Mac OS X or a computer running Windows XP or Vista, a Webcam and/or a microphone. It works with browsers that support the current version of G-mail that include Chrome, Firefox 2.0+, Internet Explorer 7.0, and Safari 3.0. A webcam and small web browser plug-in are required for the video chat. However, users who do not have a webcam will still be able to chat with friends by voice.

According to Google, G-mail is the first web-mail service to provide the option of video chat. Google spokesman, Jason Freidenfelds, said that the idea behind the launch of video and voice chat was to make it quicker and easier to communicate with other people by whatever means is best convenient.

He further said that it was a nice alternative for businesses, looking for another way for people to connect.

For small companies, G-mail video chat, could help save money on international phone calls too.

Rajen Sheth, senior product manager for Google’s enterprise group, opined, “We think this is pretty significant. It is something that we see as bringing people closer, especially in a business context.”

No doubt, G-mail rules the roost and has become popular because of its aggressive spam filters and embedded chat capabilities and a result of such facilities, it has attracted a huge base of users who like to get connected and stay active throughout the day, everyday. With the addition of video and voice chat, the increase in user base is definitely going to rise.