Hangouts: what it is, how it worked and what is the alternative

google hangouts app

Surely, if you have been on the Internet, and more specifically with a Gmail email, you will know Hangouts, which is, was, one of Google's communication tools for making calls or video calls, as well as chats.

On November 1, 2022 Hangouts officially disappeared from Google tools in such a way that today it is no longer available. But do you want to know what Hangouts is and what it worked for? So let's take a look.

What is Hangouts

google hangout logo

The first thing we are going to do is tell you a little about Hangouts. If you have used it, you will know that it is a messaging and communication service. This was the replacement for two tools that Google had, Google+ Messenger and Google Talk. It really combined both and it was one of the tools that could be used thanks to Gmail.

However, although this occurred in 2013, in 2019 Google decided it was time to revamp and shut down this tool. But what he really did was move users to other platforms, Google Chat and Google Meet, which are the ones that are currently in force.

Thus, we could say that Hangouts has been a telephone, chat and video call communication tool that no longer exists as such, but it is maintained through others.

The alternative to Hangouts

But, as you know, Google often does not throw in the towel, and although Hangouts no longer exists, since June 2022, when the closure of this tool was officially announced, there was an alternative. We are talking about Google Chat.

This is the one that comes to replace Hangouts and pretty much does the same thing. So the tool for maintaining conversations has not really disappeared, it has only changed its name.

What Hangouts does

video call in google hangouts

Now that you know what Hangouts is, let's see what it does. In general, we can say that it is a tool to maintain conversation between two or more people. It can be done both on mobile and on the computer.

Within those conversations you can do:

  • Video calls. Because it has a free function and up to 10 users can participate in it (25 since 2016). In video calls you also had the advantage of being able to apply filters or visual effects, sounds, watch videos, take pictures, etc.
  • Posts. They are sent for free. The characteristic of this is that users receive them because they have a Gmail account (and it jumps to them as a chat) but if they don't, then it is sent as an SMS.
  • Phone calls. They are like video calls but in this case voice only. Also, you can call landline or mobile numbers, not just Gmail contacts. Of course, it is not free; during the call Hangouts informs you of what it is costing you (which is why it was not a feature that was used much).

What advantages did Hangouts have?

Taking into account that we are talking about a tool that is no longer available, we cannot tell you how it works. But we can take a look at the advantages it had in its heyday, and the reason why many used it.

The main feature that made Hangouts widely used was video calls. And it is that the quality they offered, the audio and the fact that they were not usually cut off or interrupted Due to the lack of connection, I compared them almost to those of Skype. For this reason, many chose them, especially when they had to hold meetings with several people.

In addition, lThe live broadcasts themselves were published directly on Google+, which came to replace even Youtube. In fact, it was YouTube that, in 2019, switched to those transmissions, which would be YouTube Live.

The fact that you could make phone calls, especially when you were on a computer, also made it much easier to make calls without having to stop and pick up your mobile, or landline, to talk. And the same thing happened with the calls that were received.

Why Hangouts stopped working

google hangouts

Source: The Spanish

As we have told you, it was in 2019 when Google made the decision to close the tool by 2022. But, if it had been good, why close?

Keep in mind that the company often creates tools that improve the previous ones. In this case, Hangouts coexisted with Google Chat and Meet, which did the same as the previous one.

In this way, and taking into account the limitations, such as the number of people for which video calls, it was logical to think that it should unify services. Hence, now there is only Google Chat and Meet.

In addition, we must bear in mind that the expectations and results that Google obtained from the tool were not what they expected and despite the fact that it was used, not at the level of maintaining the tool. For this reason, they also decided to opt for others that could offer something more, or of even better quality.

Did you use Hangouts back in the day? What do you think about it? And how do you see their substitutes now, better or worse?


Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.