I don’t have much to say about Google Hangouts, but I will try. You have probably heard of it, but like Google Plus, it didn’t really work. Google makes money from ads. They also have excellent storage and business tools. Hangouts is not one of their big wins.
It’s a good tool for chatting, but it doesn’t fit into the world we live in now. People would rather send pictures on Instagram or talk to family on Facebook. iPhone users stick to Apple’s apps. Android users mostly use Facebook, Instagram, and others. Hangouts don’t work for normal people.
Still, Google is working hard to keep it alive. It’s free, but not many people use it. But it works well for businesses. Many companies like it because it looks like a professional tool. It’s suitable for companies that need to chat, but want something free and simple.
Google Voice and Hangouts: A Hard Link
Let’s talk about Google Voice. This can be tricky. There is a phone in Gmail that lets you call people. It’s very cheap, depending on where you live. You can contact the US and Canada for free, forever, with just a Gmail account.
The phone is also in Hangouts, but it’s also called Google Voice. This isn’t very clear. Soon, Voice will leave Hangouts and be its own tool. We don’t know why. Maybe they want to change Hangouts, or maybe Voice doesn’t work with it.
For now, you can use Google Voice on your phone or PC. You can buy credit and call other countries at low prices. If you need to contact a support line, use Google Voice. It’s much more affordable than using a regular phone.
What People Think: Mixed Opinions
People have mixed feelings about Hangouts. Some like it because it works well, others don’t like Google’s control over everything. Google owns so much. They also use their own code, which doesn’t work with other apps. Other apps use something called XMPP. But Hangouts uses Google’s own code, and they don’t share it. Google says it’s safe, but we don’t know for sure.
Also, Hangouts is tied to Google+. Some features require a Google+Google+ account. I don’t use Google Plus. I don’t want to. But, if you use it, some of your info could be shared with people you don’t know well. That could be a problem if you want privacy.
Video Calls: Works Well, But Not Perfect
Hangouts lets you make video calls. That’s what it’s for. At first, it had 10 people per call. Now, it can have 25 people at work or school calls. The video quality is good, and it’s safe because it’s encrypted. But, there’s a problem. Google holds the keys to the code. If someone gets those keys, they can read your old chats. That’s a big issue.
For one-on-one video calls, Google Duo is better. It’s made for low internet speeds. Hangouts is for big group chats. It’s better for serious talks, not quick chats.
Using Hangouts for Work
You can use Hangouts to talk to your team. You can chat with up to 24 people. It’s great for brainstorming or checking how things are going. Many people use Hangouts this way. It’s faster than writing big reports and waiting for your boss to read them. You talk in a Hangouts call, and everyone writes notes if needed.
I don’t use it much for work, but I know people who do. If you manage a team, Hangouts can help. They can work together, and you watch. It’s easy to use.
My Thoughts: Good, But Not Perfect
Google Hangouts has a lot of potential. I trust Google to make things work well. They changed the old Google+ Hangouts to a new one, but I don’t know why. It works fast, and it’s reliable. You don’t get much downtime.
I’d say Hangouts is a good choice for video calls and team chats. But other tools may be safer and better for privacy. I’m not sure how long Hangouts will remain great, since Google Voice is moving away from it.
Hangouts is free, and it will likely stay free. If you need a basic app for talking to others, Hangouts can work.
