Google Can Connect No Matter the Device

Many of us think of Google as a quick and easy way to find information about anything.  Since it was first launched in spring of 1996, since that time the iconic on line search company has expanded into most every facet of our daily lives.  There are now Google controlled cars, Google Glass, Google foreign language translation, Google email, even a Google image library.  Seems like every day Google is announcing some new service or product.  One of the most recent is called Google Hangouts.

Hangouts is a free service that joins the ranks of other video calling applications like Skype, FaceTime and ooVoo.  While it offers more that just video calling and can allow you to create a virtual TV station, I will concentrate on the former in this column.

To get started you must have a Google account.  This is free and many already may have a gMail account or use Google Calendar or another Google app.  If you don’t have an account, just point your browser to www.google.com and click on “Sign In” in the top right of the screen; it will guide you through the process.  You will also want to download the Google Chrome browser if you don’t already have it on your computer. 

Of course, you need a device connected to the internet either using home wifi or mobile 4G.  As discussed above, most any computer, tablet or phone with a camera will work. There is no cost for the service other than the cost of your internet connection. 

Once you load Hangouts you can communicate via audio and video with anyone else using the Hangouts app.  It is great for families since it allows up to ten devices to simultaneously join in the call.  Once connected, the person speaking is seen by all.  Embedded in the software is the ability to share pictures, documents, even YouTube videos in real time with everyone on the call.

One of the great features of Hangouts is that it is “device neutral.”  This means that, unlike many similar services that run only on one specific device or operating system, Hangouts is at home on a PC or Mac, on an iPhone or Android, on an iPad or Windows tablet. This makes it ideal for families and companies that want/need to communicate with people who do not all have the same device or operating platform.

There are several other features that space does not allow me to cover here.  It is a powerful easy-to-use service that is worth a look.  While ease of use and the quality of the video is not as good as Apple’s FaceTime, the fact that you can communicate with most anyone without requiring them to have an iPhone, Mac or iPad more than compensates.