The first whispers of a Google IM client emerged about a year ago.

According to a number of reports, Google is now set to actually release its IM client called Google Talk sometime this week, likely tomorrow.

Last year, the industry was jabbering about Google's potential IM client. The general theory was that the client would be based on the open source Jabber XMPP protocol (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol).

At the time Google officials were unavailable for comment to either confirm or deny the rumor and a year has since passed without such a Google IM product emerging. This week, The New York Times and LA Times ran stories that said Google's IM product was coming soon, likely this week.

The IM product is rumored to be called Google Talk.

Full article: internetnews.com