What was it?
Google's original XMPP-based instant messenger. Integrated into Gmail. Federated with other Jabber/XMPP servers.
What happened?
Google fully shut down Google Talk in June 2017, having already pushed users to Hangouts in 2013. Dropped XMPP federation, ending interop with Jabber networks.
Migration Guide
Google Chat (current Workspace messenger), Signal, or any XMPP client (Conversations, Gajim) for federated chat.
Timeline & context
Google Talk (GChat) shut down in June 2017, 9 years ago. It sat in the design category, where Soft.xyz tracks 7 discontinued products in total. If you are still running it in production, the migration path above is the shortest route off it.
FAQ
Why did Google Talk (GChat) shut down?
Google fully shut down Google Talk in June 2017, having already pushed users to Hangouts in 2013. Dropped XMPP federation, ending interop with Jabber networks.
What should I migrate Google Talk (GChat) to?
No drop-in replacement is tracked yet — check the design category for current options.
Is there a free alternative to Google Talk (GChat)?
Not among the tracked alternatives.