There is a lot of evidence that suggests speculation of a Google IM client is not all a load of rubbish.

Google announced a few days ago that on Wednesday (tomorrow) they would be releasing information about a ‘communications tool’, and users of the Neowin.net messaegeboards have been doing a bit of investigating themselves. They have found that connecting to http://talk.google.com redirects to http://www.google.com/talk, suggesting that Google have the infrastructure in place all ready to go.

Also, using a Jabber IM client, they managed to get a response from the same server, suggesting even more so that Google are readying to put the system in place. A screenshot of this is available here.

Discussion now is of whether Google will ‘lock down’ the system to allow only Google users to log on, or whether any users of other services such as MSN Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger will be able to log on as they wish, as with other Jabber clients.

Personally, I think if they did allow you to add MSN and AIM contacts to your contact list on Google IM (if it indeed manifests itself), then it would take off like a dream, just as with Gmail and Adsense.

We’ll soon find out.

More info: InsideGoogle

Update:The LA Times makes it even more definite