By Google Talk was the official video-chat service for Gmail users for quite some time, but since Google+ and its 10-person Hangouts now dominate the former’s feature-set the latest out of the Google camp is nothing surprising.
Google Talk’s video chat service, which allows members to chat one-on-one with their friends and family, will now be replaced by Hangouts in Gmail.
No longer will users be confined to talking to just one soul at a time, though that option is obviously still available if you so choose. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the unique sharing features such as watching embedded YouTube videos anyone posts into the chat.
Gmail users will need to sign up for a Google+ account to do more than the one-on-one bit, but that should be no issue considering your current Gmail account will also act as your illustrious new Google+ account.
The service is available today for those with personal Google accounts while those on a Google Apps account will begin to see it in the coming weeks. What’s next? YouTube? (That would be an AWESOME combination especially if Google allowed the ability to record Hangouts.) Head on over to Google’s blog for the full details.
Not sure if I like this… I feel like Google keeps pushing us into Google+ like we’re cattle =/
I don’t know what you’re talking abo… MOOO!!!!
my thoughts exactly….at first everyone were crazy about google+, but after using it for a while, i prefer using facebook to google+
I prefer Google+ in privacy, ease of use, and other features. The only thing it lacks is people. Inertia is a hard thing to crack, but I haven’t given up… the fact that FB keeps pissing people off more and more helps.
Well seeing as Google wants to become Google+, it kinda makes sense that they give you the choice of G+ or no G at all.
I wonder what will happen to the Google Talk app…..it was a great way to communicate between my comp and friends on their phone (or vice versa)
But seeing as none of them had G+ accounts I hope it won’t mess with that.
I think Google needs to consolidate a lot of it’s communication and social offerings. It started with Wave and Buzz being canned, I think Talk is next as it gets integrated into G+ Hangouts and Messenger.
There really is no sense maintaining two almost identical systems and G+ will only gain traction or market share if people actually use it. No point in diluting development into similar products. Third party devs will come up with alternatives, such as Facebook etc, but Google need to push a centralised platform for chat/email/video/social. It’s the only way.
G+ is an easier way for them to collect valuable data about us Google sheep. I’d prefer to keep using Gtalk instead of G+ integration.
get down the shoot Chris!!!
When will Google fix the whole Google Talk and Google+ Messenger confusion? I like the Google+ messenger much more, but It’s only available on mobile so I have no way to reply to any messages on a desktop.
92% baked. Eventually Google will have to answer to all these non-completed products.
I really wouldn’t want anyone recording my hangout without me knowing about it.
I’ve had no interest in Hangouts. Is audio-only chat as easy there as in proper Chat? If I have to do even one extra click to start a Hangout audio chat with someone than I have to now, I’ll consider this yet another failed Google service “improvement”.
I am okay with this… Google NEEDS to fix their messaging fragmentation DRASTICALLY… I use Gtalk but then there is also G+ Messenger… But when I am on G+ on my computer, Gtalk is the chat client, G+ Messenger is only available on mobile, Convos I have in G+ Messenger via mobile are no where to be found on G+ on desktop web, yet convos I have in Gtalk via Gmail get transported over to G+ on my computer….
Confused? Ya me too… Its ridiculous, and it blows my mind how the worlds smartest software engineers all sit in a room working on this stuff and these simple things dont get addressed.
I agree completely… in Android especially, their Text app, Google Voice (which is an extremely poor app), Gchat, Gmail, etc. It should be a more seamless experience… for example:
Apple does it best with their iMessage which uses text and data completely seamlessly to the user. Their their call app seamlessly calls and voice chats. Google’s infrastructure could easily do this they just didn’t think of it. It’s a shame it’s so poor.
the thing is… how do they NOT think of it!? It really blows my mind. Again, the SMARTEST software engineers in the world all work on these programs… and they dont think for one second to maybe combine their services so its much easier and seamless to the end user on top of probably being easier for them as a company?
Framentation is just something Google apparently can’t figure out…
Maybe is it patented…
That’s cause most Google products are 92% baked. Someday it will bite them in the arse.
You can already record hangouts, so long as you started it as a hangout on air.
That’s the good thing about choice,you don’t have to use it.
Bottom line is Gchat, Gmail, and this video chat program should all be seamlessly integrated into one app.
Google has done a terrible job at this, just look at how bad Google Voice is, it can’t even thread messages one-per-contact like everything else, not to mention it’s slow and crashes a lot. Google should look carefully at iMessage.
Will these changes affect apps like GrooveIp or Talkatone?