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Google is testing out a new feature in Search that lets you chat directly with businesses via Hangouts

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Google Chat for businesses 2

If you’re anything like us, sometimes the idea of interacting with another human being over the phone is just too much work. Google knows this. It’s why they’re reportedly testing a new feature in Google Search that will allow you to contact businesses over Hangouts.

Listed under the contact information card as “Chat,” it will show when a business you’ve searched is available for chat, or not. Selecting chat will pull up a familiar Hangouts chat window where you can make a reservation or simply inquire about a restaurant’s “gluten free” menu. The feature is still being tested and is still in its experimental phase (you’ll get an error if you try it right now).

It’s almost crazy to think about how little we use our phone for actual voice calls and the few times we do, we’re calling businesses looking for a specific product or making a reservation. Google cutting this out completely and making it easier for techies to get a hold of local business could be a huge move, one where everybody wins.

[TechCrunch]

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

Verizon Nexus 6 coming March 12th with Android 5.1 and Advanced Calling / VoLTE support baked in

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8 Comments

  1. Wow. Awesome. Could be a game changer!

  2. Hey verizon!….

    **ck you.

  3. Thank goodness, I hate speaking on the phone. Reading/writing something is just straight to the point.

  4. This is seriously one of the best ideas Google has come up with

  5. They keep trying to push people into their own tech – it didn’t work with Google+ and it won’t work with hangouts.

    1. Worked on me :)

  6. Fantastic, daddy likes :)

  7. So tired of people NOT being able to speak with other people. Why is everyone still 5 year olds? Oh I know why, no one pushes them out of their comfort zones. Come on people, I implore you to break out of this. Smartphones, technology = awesome! But ‘speak’ with people. Start with one, then it gets easier and easier.

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