New Google voice and video chat service offers free calls via Gmail

Google is throwing its hat into the ring with a new internet telephone service that will be in direct competition with the hugely successful Skype VoIP service.

Currently, the new concept will only be available in the US and Canada via Gmail and should come online in the next few days. Although there are plans to roll this out to a global audience over time, firm dates have yet to be penciled in.

The announcement was made by software engineer Robin Schriebman on the Google blog and could present Skype with its biggest challenge yet to retain the sizeable marketshare for internet calling that it has built up over the last few years.

Using the web-based telephony service users will be able to make free calls to US and Canadian phones. International calls will carry low rates and all services should be available until the end of the year, with a possible extension being earmarked for the service according to the blog.

Previously, users had to both be at their computer with microphone and speakers hooked up in order to make VoIP calls, with both also having to be signed into Gmail. The new service allows Gmail users to dial a number to any phone, with domestic connections costing nothing. In addition, Google reckons that international calls could work out as little as 2 cents per minute.

US and Canadian users can make these calls from Gmail and display their Google Voice phone number to the outbound caller ID. Conversely, it is then possible to receive calls made to this number inside Gmail.