Google proclaim the recent past that it is offering the ability to make phone calls over the web through its popular Gmail service. Unlike Google's almost two year old Gmail voice and video chat, which present users an audio and visual experience online, the characteristic let users to dial phone numbers. With this move, Google is challenging with Skype, which has long conquered this area.

"Starting today, you can call any telephone right from Gmail," stated Robin Schriebman, a Google software engineer. "We've been testing this characteristic within and have originated it to be helpful in a lot of circumstances, variety from making a fast call to a restaurant, to placing a call when you're in an area with weak reception."

Schriebman clarify that making a phone call through Gmail works just like a standard phone. Users can click Call phone at the apex of their chat listing and enter a number or a contact name. She added that calls to anybody in the U.S. and Canada will be free in any case for the rest of the year. Very low charge include been set up for calls to other countries.