Interesting. Google is combining GoogleTalk with Gmail to create GmailChat. Basically, it sounds like Gmail users will be able to chat with other users of GoogleTalk, Jabber, Earthlink, and other technologies working on that protocol. For a screenshot, look below.

I can see why Google would do this, as GoogleTalk hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, and combining chat with email seems like a way to just integrate two common computer uses.

However, I’m left to wonder if users want to chat when working on email? I know we often multitask in that manner now, and many email conversations are basically like instant message conversations, but people do like to get work done with email, and chatting can be a distraction. Regardless, I don’t see much of a reason for Google not to try it.