This simple workaround may help if you maintain two different Google Accounts and have to chat with Google Talk friends who are spread across both these accounts.
The desktop edition of Google Talk comes in two flavors - the standard client and the labs edition. The trick is that you can install both these clients along side each other and even run them simultaneously using different Google Accounts as in the screenshot.
Here I am running Google Talk standard desktop client using my Gmail login while I have logged into the GTalk Labs edition using my Google Apps login. Both clients run simultaneously on the desktop without any problems. If this fails to interest you, try the Digsby option.
Related: Is Google Talk Blocked
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/internet/voice/run-multiple-google-talk-clients/3918/
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
Or maybe use meebo.
Written by LiviuX on 07.18.08
After installing GTalk, right click to expose the properties of the shortcut icon on desktop (or the program launcher in the programs list). Suffix ‘ /nomutex’ to the contents of the target textbox (without quotes). Now run multiple instances of GTalk (of the same version)!
Written by DWiner on 07.18.08
Or use Pidgin.
Written by 99Perfectos on 07.18.08
Using the classic client, you can also run multiple instances using the /nomutex in command line.
e.g.:
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk /nomutex
You can create a shortcut to make thing easier.
Written by rodflash on 07.18.08
Oh Yes ! I too noticed this when I installed “Labs Edition” last week . I loved certain features of Labs Edition too ( like : New Mail Alerts ) !
Written by Arpitnext on 07.18.08
Google Lab edition sucks!
I love normal Google talk
To start 2 nomal google talk desktop edition clients
Right click on the Gtalk shortcut icon and edit the
Taget as following
“C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe” /nomutex
Now close and double click the Gtalk icon :D
It works… 2 Gtalks on simultaneously
Written by vasu on 07.18.08
amit why to install two seprate clints when you can just add a simple word and use multiple instance of gtalk and yes one for @gmail and another for @googleapps.. just create a shortcut on desktop and in properties just add /nomutex “C:\Program Files\Google\Google Talk\googletalk.exe” /nomutex
Written by vaibhav gera on 07.18.08
Yep “nomutex” switch works like charm.
I posted detailed instruction with screenshots here. :-)
Written by Rahul Bansal on 07.19.08
Does google permit if a person use two google accounts? one of my google account was disabled for no reason…. dont know wtf is wrong with google…
Written by mano on 07.19.08
or use gtalk for web/web version of gtalk it suport any browser like firefox, netscape, or internet explorer.
Written by Ram Tiwari on 07.20.08
Gtalk desktop doesnt work with google apps email addresses, so this is the reason to use GTalk Labs Ed (which allows them)
Written by g_user on 03.01.09