Google has introduced a new feature in its Voice and Chat service, enabling users to make phone calls via Gmail. More than 1 million calls were placed within 24 hours of this feature going live.  

"Given that most of us don't spend all day in front of our computers, we thought, wouldn't it be nice if you could call people directly on their phones?" announced Robin Schriebman, Google's Software Engineer. 

This feature allows users to make calls on cellphones and landlines from their Gmail account. This service is currently available for users in US and Canada who can make free calls within these countries till end of this year, "calls to other countries will be billed at our very low rates" adds Robin. 

To make calls, users need to install a browser plug-in, thereafter a call button will appear in the chat window and a pop up number pad. One can dial the phone using this number pad and also receive calls if they have a Google Voice account. 

This latest add-on will not only make lot of Gmail users happy but will also bring the convenience of running most business communications within a Gmail page; which is a definite threat to Skype.