Google recently introduced a new Google Talk instant messaging software version that can actually run on Apple’s iPhone. The new Google IM is engineered to both run on iPhone and iPod Touch thru the Safari browser.

This new Google Talk automatically shuts off whenever a user opens up another application on iPhone. This is in accordance with the Apple’s system of system resource conservation.

Google Talk opens in Safari browser and if you switch the window or open another URL, the Google Talk status will temporarily become “Unavailable”. The session will be restored once the user navigates back to the Google Talk page.

While iPhone users are happy about this, AT&T is of course less enthusiastic. Google Talk as well as other iPhone IM clients like Meebo can actually reduce text messaging profitability.

The current AT&T iPhone plans require subscribers to pay $20 a month for unlimited data plan that comes with 200 free text messages. But the introduction of the iPhone 3G plan will change this. Starting July 11, text messaging will now be outside AT&T’s new data plan.

Under AT&T’s current iPhone plans, text messaging isn’t a major source of revenue. The phone company charges $20 per month for an unlimited data plan that includes 200 text messages. Text messaging will now have a new rate of $20 for an unlimited number of message ($30 for FamilyTalk plans of up to five lines), $15 (1,500 messages), or $5 (200 messages).

Due to these new rates, users would simply choose IM such as Google Talk over traditional text messaging.

Source: InformationWeek