Google Snaps Up Gaim Programmer

Google has reeled in another prominent programmer, this time the lead developer on the open-source Gaim instant messaging project.

Sean Egan announced Wednesday on the Gaim project blog that he has taken a job at Google to work on the Mountain View, Calif.-based search giant's Google Talk instant messaging client.

"The goal of Google Talk is to make real-time communication as open as possible, and in that regard, I've been working to offer all of Google Talk's features into other clients," wrote Egan. "Currently, I'm working on making it as easy as possible for other clients to use Google Talk's voice features."

Egan would be a good pick for such chores, since Gaim is a multi-service IM client -- much like the for-free and commercial editions of Trillian -- that supports networks run by AOL, Microsoft, and Yahoo, as well as the also-open-source Jabber.

He will continue to work on Gaim, which is scheduled to release a 2.0 version before the end of the year. Among the new Gaim features, Egan highlighted support for Google Talk's voice chat, as well as webcam connections with MSN and Yahoo contacts.

Google Talk debuted in beta in late August, and can be downloaded from Google's Web site.