I really like this feature because you can reach out and touch anyone, anywhere, though it also feels a bit intrusive. Like video calls, Voice over IP calls made in Hangouts ring through anywhere Google Hangouts appears-including Gmail. Note that you're limited to person-to-person video calls, unless you have a Google+ account, which supports up to 10 people. I particularly like that Hangouts lets you toggle between text and video, and front- and rear-facing cameras. In my previous testing, I noted that Hangouts videos worked surprisingly well over 4G. Your experience will likely vary depending upon your network. The video cut out a few times, but voice persisted. The video was not of stellar quality, but it was more than adequate. In my testing, I started a video call between my Samsung Galaxy S5 and my ancient iPhone 4s over Wi-Fi. That new device appears as just another member of the group video. Recipients can respond from their mobile devices or computers, even if they've already responded on another device. If you're chatting with another Google user in Hangouts, you can convert your conversation into a live video call. Google's documentation suggests that you can change the number you respond with, but I wasn't able to find a way. By default, your SMS responses are sent from the same number that received the message. When it comes to answering my stepmother, I can chose whether to respond with a Hangouts message or a text. Unfortunately, you can no longer swipe to archive message these threads, however. So, my stepmother can text me from her phone, then continue chatting over the chat function in Gmail, and I'll see it all in a single thread. If your contacts list is in good order, your messages are merged into threads by user. Whether it's text sent through Hangouts, IMs from users on other chat services, SMS messages to your phone, or text messages sent to your Google Voice number, it appears here. Your messages appear in the center column- all your messages. It reminds me a lot of old-style instant messaging. This layout feels much more familiar than the older version's SMS-like approach. If one of your contacts is currently active on a Google Service that shows Hangouts-such as Gmail or Google+-you see a green chat bubble next to his or her name. A search box makes finding someone a bit easier. The people you contact the most appear at the top of the list in Hangouts, and the rest follow below. During my testing, one voice call through Hangouts (not handled by Google Voice) was received as several separate calls-one call for each ring of the phone. The only difference between a voice call through Hangouts or Google Voice is that Hangouts voice calls appear to come from "No Caller ID" on most phones. If you don't have Google Voice, no problem Google Hangouts supports voice calls all on its own with the same restrictions as Google Voice. are free, and international calls cost just pennies per minute. Google Voice calls to any number within the U.S. Any calls you place through the dialer, either to contacts or numbers you dial, are placed using your Google Voice number. Once you agree to use Hangouts for SMS and Google Voice calls and messages, the app presents three bright-green columns, one each for your friends, your text-based messages, and a dialer pad to make calls. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( See how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).) How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.
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