The Google Talk site is now live. It was reported yesterday that Google would unleash it’s IM client some time this week. It turns out that you can download Google Talk beta today. (isn’t every Google service beta?)

Google Talk requires a Gmail account as this is how you authenticate. So if you been holding out and don’t have a Gmail account you are out of luck. If you need an GMail invite post a comment to this thread. Between Derek and I, we have a hundred.

Google also went the extra step of not forcing their proprietery client on you. According to their site you can use any client that supports Jabber/XMPP. They even give a list of alternate IM clients. Since I use Trillian for everything, including Sametime, this is great.

The Google Talk client itself is very clean looking and lightweight. Cheers to Google!

From the site:

They say talk is cheap. Google thinks it should be free. Google Talk enables you to call or send instant messages to your friends for free–anytime, anywhere in the world. Google Talk offers you:

* Choice: Get in touch how and when you want to–over email, IM or a call

* Quality: Talk through your computer but hear your friends as if they were in the same room

* Convenience: Your Gmail contacts are pre-loaded into Google Talk so inviting or talking to your friends is just a click away

UPDATE:
Google Talk Articles and Hacks:
How to Broadcast MP3’s, Podcasts and other audio over Google Talk
Google Talk and Gizmo Project interoperable
Game in Google Talk
HOW TO use Google Talk (now) with iChat