14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most interesting products part of the initial Google+ roll-out is Hangouts, essentially a group video chat app. It's not exactly original, Skype and others have been offering the functionality, but it does have some key selling points and the experience along with its simplicity make it a real competitor in the space.
"Today’s online communication tools (like instant messaging and video-calling) don’t understand this subtlety: They’re annoying, for starters. You can ping everyone that’s 'available,' but you’re bound to interrupt someone’s plans," Google wrote.
"They’re also really awkward. When someone doesn't respond, you don't know if they’re just not there, or just not interested," it added.
"With Google+ we wanted to make on-screen gatherings fun, fluid and serendipitous, so we created Hangouts. By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you're free, and spend time with your Circles," it explained.
Key to the appeal of Hangouts is its simplicity. Users can indicate that they feel like chatting, or hanging out, and others from the circles they choose that are free can join in.
Up to ten people can join the same conversation. Just one person at a time takes the center stage, the app switches automatically to the person which should be in focus.
The same central screen can be used for watching a YouTube video for example, while everyone else can comment on it. There is also a text chat option available, for private talks.
Google+ Hangouts doesn't use Flash, it's an HTML5 app, but it requires Google's communications plugin, the same one used for video chat in Gmail. This is why the emerging, open real-time communications standard for the web is very important for Google.
Hangouts looks like the most fun and the simplest group video chat app to date and is probably the stand-out product out of the Google+ bunch unveiled today.