Gmail now offers voice and video chat

Google has launched voice and video chat -- right inside Gmail. It is an easy-to-use, seamless experience, with high-quality audio and video -- all for free.

All you have to do is download and install the voice and video plugin. Once you install the plugin, to start a video chat, just click on the "Video & more" menu at the bottom of your Gmail chat window, and choose "Start video chat." You'll have a few seconds to make sure you look presentable while it's ringing, and then you'll see and hear your friend live, right from within Gmail. You can click the "pop-out" iconto make the video larger, or click the fullscreen iconin the upper left-hand corner for a fully immersive experience.

The feature has been designed using Internet standards such as XMPP, RTP, and H.264, which means that third-party applications and networks can choose to interoperate with Gmail voice and video chat. It could take a day or so for this feature to be available in all Gmail and Google Apps accounts. If you want to download the plugin right away, visit http://gmail.com/videochat.

And if you need a webcam, there are a few models with special discounts through November 30th.

Read more at Official Gmail Blog: Say hello to Gmail voice and video chat.