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