Google to Release VoIP and IM?

Is it not enough to dominate search? Is Google also looking to get in on the action of how people communicate with each other? Possibly, if you believe the rumors running around the Web. The Los Angeles Times has an article today that claims to have confirmation from "inside sources."

A round-up of some of the talk:

• The LA Times claims to have inside information stating that the name of the new product will be Google Talk.
• The same LA Times article suggests that the new communications program will combine traditional instant messaging with voice chat.
• Google Rumors states that the domain name talk.google.com is active and redirects to a 404 at www.google.com/talk.
• Some posters at Neowin claim to have discovered a Jabber connection at Google using the Trillian IM program.

It's interesting to note that a word game called "Google Talk" already exists. It was created by a Google employee named Douwe Osinga as a Google hack word game. Play with Google Talk at Osinga's Web site.

Further speculation has it that the new communications tool won't be an instant messaging system or VoIP, but rather the announcement will have to do with some type of nationwide WiFi system. Wishful thinking, in my opinion. Besides, it's only another nine of so hours until "tomorrow." I think we can probably all survive that long to wait and see what the news is.