<p>Prior to the co-option of the term by high tech companies, a chat used to be a casual, face-to-face conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Now that companies like Google and Skype have brought text, voice and video chats online, chatting will never have the same connotation again. In fact, since many businesses rely on both Google and Skype for chatting services in a professional context, a chat isn't even inherently casual anymore. Whatever your interest in chatting is, Google and Skype each have features worthy of chatting about. Background</p><p>Google enables chat through any one of its numerous services, including Gmail, Google Talk, Google Drive and the Google+ social network. Colloquially, many throw these services under the umbrella term "Gchat." However, there is a Google Talk app for Windows Phone that bears the trademarked name "Gchat," which supports text chats via Google Talk. Overall, though, chats on Google come in the form of text-only or voice and video chats, just as they do in Skype. And both services give you the option of chatting either from a computer or a mobile device, with the aid of the Skype app or any number of Google's communication apps. Function</p><p>One major difference between the two options is that, with Skype, you need to download the entire Skype program. With Google, on the other hand, chatting for the most part is enabled via your Web browser, although for voice and video chats you must download and install a plugin. The one exception to this with Google is when using the Google Talk desktop chat program, which is a standalone program outside of the browser that allows you to share files of any type and size with someone during a chat, just as you can on the Skype platform. Cost</p><p>All of the Google chat services are free, as of May 2013. That's true for Skype, too, with one exception: Skype allows group chats of up to 10 Skype users, but at least one of those users must have a Skype Premium account -- which requires a monthly fee of at least $5 per month. Google+ offers group video chats of up to 10 people in group connections called "Hangouts" that won't cost you a thing, but all of the members have to have a Google account. Distinction</p><p><a href="http://science.opposingviews.com/gchat-vs-skype-22556.html">Keep reading...</a></p>