Google to unify all chat services under Babble: Report

Google is looking to unify its messaging platforms into one single service, expected to be christened Babble, according to a report by Geek.com. The website cites multiple sources to inform that the Babble service is being built from scratch to solve problems of Google's chat products not interacting with each other efficiently barring Google Talk for Gmail and Google+.

The report also offers some details related to the new service including details about its ability to share photos in chat windows similar to Google+ Messenger, start a Hangout with anyone in the contact list, and threaded conversations.

All individual services will be integrated into the single platform, and users will be able to use the same chat window across all Google products complete with all features. The service would come with apps for Android and Chrome OS. So it looks like Google will also try to get into mobile messaging in a way similar to Apple's iMessage and BlackBerry's BlackBerry Messenger offerings.  

While no definite timeframe has been specified for the launch of the new service, the report mentions that Google is expected to announce Babble during the Google I/O event in May.  

At the moment, Google offers chat across a series of communications platforms including Google Talk, Hangout, Voice, Messenger, Chat for Drive collaboration, and Google Talk for Google+.

During last year's IO event, Google Product Manager Nikhyl Singhal had indicated that the company was working on merging their real time communication services under one head.