"Hangouts" have been a popular feature on the social network website, Google+, which was launched in June 2011. Now, Google is bringing to the same feature to Gmail, replacing the Gmail video chat.
"Unlike the old video chat, which was based on peer-to-peer technology, Hangouts utilize the power of Google's network to deliver higher reliability and enhanced quality," said a Google blog post. "You'll be able to chat with all the same people you did before and, in fact, with Hangouts you'll now be able to reach them not only when they are using Gmail but also if they are on Google+ in the browser or on their Android or iOS devices."
"Hangouts" are superior in technology when compared to Gmail video chat and it is easier to add new users in meetings. For a company which is looking to free itself from Cisco Telepresence, and this can be a valid choice.
If the user has both Gmail and Google+ profile they can video chat with up to nine people, all at once. They can also watch YouTube videos together, collaborate on Google Docs, and share their screen. You can also use virtual effects like pirate hats, moustaches, beards, halos and other personal decorations.
In order to promote Google+ usage, they have smudged the lines of distinction between users of Gmail, Google Maps and other Google services. If you log into any one of them then you are logged into Google+ too. Google has been taking lot of steps bringing in integration of Gmail and Google+, while this helps users using Gmail stay in that environment while they were able to view, comment and reply for Google+ notifications from Gmail, this feature was brought in May.
In 2008, video chat was added to Gmail.