At Google I/O conference, Google has announced a new real-time communication hangouts. It will be available for web, Android and iOS later Wednesday. Google is also integrating Hangouts in Gmail and Google+. This is launched to challenge Facebook’s Messenger app.
Vic Gundotra, senior VP of engineering says that Hangout focuses on conversation more than contacts. You can access contacts in one tap. Contacts will be ranked by Google based on various factors. Main factor will be how often you talk to them.
With this app, you can do text messaging, send photos and video conversation. All your messaging history will be stored so you can see it later from history. You can easily delete a conversation of turn off history function.
If you will use the app on any other platform, it will easily synchronize the conversations from your old device. If you add a photo to a conversation, it will automatically save into albums.
The feature we are missing in the app is the ability to send ad receive SMS. This may be a point why people should prefer iMessage or Facebook messenger over Hnagouts. But Google says that in some countries, users can participate in Hangouts via SMS.
See the demo video of the app below.