Ways of chatting using google

Most of us are familiar with the following methods of chatting using google.

*Using the chat inside gmail.
*Using gtalk software.

There are ways by which these options of chatting can be blocked.In the first option the chat can be disabled by the network administrator.Sometimes google interprets the connection malfunctioning as being blocked by the network administrator.The second option as it is can't be blocked but can be prevented from installing.

A way to circumvent these restrictions is to use the google chat client. Using the google chat client can be difficult at times cause it requires the full focus to be on the window alone.We are not able to work with other applicatiosn simultaneously.

This problem can be solved by opening the client in firefox sidebar.The steps are as follows
*Bookmarks->Organize bookmarks
*Right click on the right pane and select New Bookmark.
*Enter the location and check the "Load the bookmark in the sidebar" checkbox

Now selecting the bookmark will load the chat client in the side bar and you can chat in the sidebar while simultaneously doing the work in the main page.

On the down side this option would be useless if the URL is blocked.
Another way to chat is to use the chat feature of google spreadsheets.
*You have to invite the person you want to chat as a author of a spreadsheet document.

*Then click the discuss button in the top right corner of the screen in the spreadsheet.

*Then Chat as simple as that.

This method of chatting can not be blocked by any means but the downside is that these chats are not stored.