Google set benchmark for other email service providers by including Gtalk chat feature in Gmail several years ago. It took long time for other popular service providers like Yahoo to duplicate the feature in their service. However, there are several people who like to use Gmail only for what it's meant for - email; and not for chatting with online buddies. Gmail silently introduced a feature to completely turn off the chat from Gmail with a simple setting. You will no longer have to be invisible or 'offline' to prevent your enthusiastic buddies from pinging you.

In order to turn off chat; head over to Gmail Settings page and then click the 'Chat' tab. Select the 'Chat Off' setting and do not forget to save the options. The chat feature will be immediately disabled from your Gmail. You can now concentrate on important emails without getting distracted.

The setting is available in Google Apps account as well. The procedure to disable chat in Google Apps mail account is the same as above. It seems that the feature has been very recently added to Gmail. Are there any CEans who'd disable the chat feature? Or do you think it's one of the important features that gives Gmail a lead among its competitors?