The emails you send and receive are not tied to Gmail: using IMAP, you can download them all to your favorite email program and move them to another email account, too. What about Google Talk conversations, though?

Will you be able to export chat logs created and kept at Gmail in a convenient format, something akin to IMAP? You will, right now.

Gmail can turn your instant messaging conversations into threads of emails — available conveniently for Download anywhere via IMAP.

Download Gmail Chat Logs via IMAP

To access and export Gmail and Google Talk chat logs using an email program:

• Make sure IMAP access is enabled for your Gmail account.
• Click the gear in Gmail's top right corner.
• Select Mail settings from the menu that comes up.
• Go to the Labels tab.
• Make sure Show in IMAP is checked for Chats under System Labels.
• Set up Gmail via IMAP in your favorite email program.
• Look for chat logs in the [Gmail]/Chats folder.

Note that, while you can copy the chat transcripts from the [Gmail]/Chats folder, you cannot import them to a different Gmail account by copying to that account's [Gmail]/Chats folder.

(Updated September 2011)