Google Hangout Ups Users With Free Direct Dial in US & Canada

by Vijay - 12/2/2011 7241 Views

Google+ Hangout connect users to Phone numbers within US & Canada

Google+ Hangouts could be the new way to conference call without having to be in front of a computer, as the new feature allows you to bring in anyone with a phone and also those without a Google account. Though users of the features would not get all the benefits of the video conferencing like sharing documents, this completely free tool can connect to people with non-smart phones.

It affords easy phone connectivity by simply starting a Google+ Hangout, clicking the Invite button at the top, selecting ‘Phone’, and entering the phone number to be dialed. Users can connect 1-on-1 quickly and for free in addition to looping people on their phones into an existing group video chat, without even having to set up a Google Voice account. By making the call accessible to anyone with a computer to anyone with a non-smart phone, Google+ intends to onboard people into one of Google+’s most innovative feature, so as to fill up Hangouts, which has a low user count, currently. Users can now access the feature through the Hangouts with Extras page.

Google sees it as having the potential to revolutionize the way both party lines and conference calls are made and used in professional and corporate setups to hold meetings, group discussions, to individual interaction with friends and family and has the potential to directly challenge Skype and similar other services. The call feature is supposed to last through 2012 for free, which means Google might monetize it later. Currently, as it doesn’t support international calling Google recommends Google Voice for making international calls.

Speaking for Google, Jarkko Oikarinen announced that the free voice calls would first be made available to people in the US and Canada from within Hangouts with extras and that it would be, “Helpful for party lines and conference calls alike. We are constantly listening to feedback so that we can make Hangouts even better for Google+ users, and we’re excited by the really cool ways people are using the product.”

Category :

Google

Tags :

Google+ Hangout, Google+ Community, Google, Social Media, SEO, SEO News, Google News

About Vijay

Working on the evolving Social Media platforms for the last 3 years, I have been constantly researching and updating my knowledge base and skill set to keep up and perhaps, stay a step ahead of the latest trends in Social Media and Search Engine Optimization .... more info about the author