Extend Google Talk Into A Remote Access Tool With GBridge

As PCs continue to expand beyond just the work environment, more and more people are buying more computers for home and travel. They have their desktop computer at home, a laptop at home, a laptop at work and maybe even a desktop at work. Keeping all of these in sync and on the same page is virtually impossible.

Many different companies have come up with many different ways for accessing each of these systems in different ways. Some of these include GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, Windows Remote Desktop, VNC and several other remote access tools that we have profiled on MakeUseOf.

However most of these require some type of firewall configuration, or cost money or are just incredibly insecure. One virtually unknown product, GBridge, provides remote access, file sharing, file syncing and backup capabilities, all only requiring a Google account.

GBridge uses what they call a ‘Revolutionary VPN Infrastructure’ to extend Google’s GTalk into a secure collaboration tool. Once the product is installed (Windows Only), it simply asks for your Google Talk account and automatically displays the rest of your GTalk friends that may or may not have the product installed. If they do have it installed, you may collaborate with them, using each of the tools I am going to describe below. This is all done with a simple install, and no firewall configuration.

Desktop Sharing

GBridge utilizes VNC to not only access your own computer, but also any of your friends or family PC’s to access them remotely and control their desktop. Again this only requires that they have GBridge installed and that they have a Google Talk account.

gbridge vnc

SecureShare

The SecureShare portion of GBridge allows for quick and easy access to any files on your additional computers with extreme VPN-like security. You can then again allow only certain friends to access these shares as well. Very handy for quickly transferring files without e-mail or FTP-like transferring.

AutoSync

Keep folders in synchronization across the globe. Removes the need to manually transfer and update files on a regular basis. With no size limitations, auto scheduling and even incremental transfers.

sync folder with gbridge

EasyBackup

Set up automatic scheduled backups to local or remote locations. Gives you peace of mind having your critical data stored off site somewhere.

GBridge is a very slick application that is very easy to setup on any Windows 2000, XP or Vista machine and gives you all the big capabilities of the remote access tools, plus much more.

Do you have any similar secure solutions like GBridge?

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T.J. Mininday

Hi, my name T.J. and I'm a Techaholic. Since the takeoff of Web 2.0, I have been 'over the top' obsessed with technology, the internet, and just about every single gadget released during that time. Whether reading, watching or listening, I can't get enough. Although the past few years have fueled my obsession, I've loved computers, gaming and all forms of technology since my early teen years(The Early 90s). It took an incredible amount of begging and prodding to push my Dad into purchasing my first $3000 Pentium Pro PC. I was immediately hooked, and I later went on to get a degree in Computer Networking and have been involved in the field ever since. I currently am employed as an IT Field Engineer, and blog part time on TheWindowsFix.com and ConnectedInternet.com. You'll find that I write about many of the same topics as MUO and look forward to contributing to this fantastic blog, for years to come.

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  • soviel

    Is there a way to make it portable? I used Universal Extractor, unpacked it but it’s not working properly. Too bad.

    • http://www.thewindowsfix.com T.J. Mininday

      Not that I know of. That might be a question for the developers.

  • Anthony

    Personally I prefer using Techinline (http://www.techinline.com) or Teamviewer (http://www.teamviewer.com) There’re less steps in the connection process and the remote user doesn’t have to pre-install or download absolutely anything

  • Tallmike

    I don’t know about other features. But if Desktop Sharing is utilizing VNC, then it is nothing but Sloooooooow.

    • http://www.thewindowsfix.com T.J. Mininday

      I don’t disagree. VNC is one of the slower products for free access, but the keyword is free.

  • blruggles

    Free and a little slow certainly beats walking a couple hundred yards!!

  • http://www.proxynetworks.com Remote control software

    When I tried the gbridge, I found it to be very versatile and useful. It also had some decent features. I particularly found useful the desktop share and syncing folders both to control my home and my office machines.

  • http://www.insegment.com SEM

    This product is unknown to me. Luckily I have a Google account so I will be able to test it out this weekend. I am used to working with Windows Remote Desktop. Have not seen to many problems with it that I can remember. Might as well test out GBridge though.