GOOGLE VIDEO CHAT

The new service, announced on Wednesday, requires users to install what Google describes as a "small web browser plug-in", as well as a webcam.

Google is pitching the feature at business customers as well as consumers. The company said on Wednesday that it would allow workers to use it for videoconferencing while out of the office, for example.

Google Mail users can activate the feature by opening a chat window and choosing 'add voice/video chat' from the options menu, an action that will lead to a one-time installation of the 2MB browser plug-in.

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