Tap Settings. As the electronic communication landscape continues to evolve, Google is attempting to streamline its notoriously confusing and numerous communication offerings.

The Google Hangouts app, available for both iOS and Android smartphones and mobile devices, is easy to install and use for free voice and video calling and video conferencing. Lifewire uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. • Say more with status messages, photos, videos, maps, emoji, stickers, and animated GIFs.

Notes: * Unlike the Chat for Google app, Hangouts doesn’t support “invisible status”.
Since it's a Former Lifewire writer Melanie Pinola has 5+ years' experience writing about consumer-oriented technology and is an expert telecommuter. It's available for Windows and Mac desktop and laptop computers as well, so it synchronizes across all your devices. By using Lifewire, you accept ourHow to Use Gmail for Free Video or Audio Internet CallingHow to Setup a Google Hangout Through Your Web BrowserA User-Friendly Guide to Making Phone Calls in Gmail

This lets you use the app at any time without logging in again. Of course, you can use a cellular connection as well but bear in mind that you can run up data charges if you don't have an unlimited data plan on your smartphone.

Fans of the Unlike Apple's Messages app, Hangouts is platform-agnostic and is supported by just about any device.

The app is also popular among businesses with remote teams and competes well against the likes of Most calls to US and Canada are free!

You can get it for iOS or on your Android via Google Play .

After installation, you can access all voice calling features directly from Hangouts or use Hangouts Dialer as a shortcut to make phone calls from the dialer …

In addition, the text messaging capabilities also let you send your location to recipients, share pictures and videos, and send stickers with the built-in gallery. Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. When it first started, Google Hangouts was a well-received video chatting application.

* View and continue your conversations across devices. You can even use Hangouts for texting. Google Hangouts runs on all modern iOS and Android smartphones. • Turn any conversation into a free group video call with up to 10 contacts. Message contacts, start free video or voice calls, and hop on a conversation with one person or a group. Access the Google Hangouts website to make a free phone call in your • Include all your contacts with group chats for up to 150 people. Lifewire uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Select "Chat preferred" on migration day. For areas outside of the U.S. and Canada, check the * Get notifications just once. Once you've downloaded the app, simply log in to your Google account. In fact, the video call feature requires a speed of at least 1Mbps for a one-to-one conversation. Available on mobile or on desktop, start making video or voice calls today. Use Google Meet (formerly Hangouts Meet) video conferencing solutions from your browser or mobile app. Google Fi users who chose classic Hangouts as their default text messaging app can still send and receive text messages from the classic Hangouts app on their Google Fi mobile device. After you do steps 1 through 7, you’re ready to transition your organization to Chat. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Hangouts app . As a result, Hangouts replaced Google Talk and integrates with  Get started with a secure, HD video today. From the Google Hangouts app, you're able to disable notifications for specific numbers, favorite conversations for easier access, and archive conversations to hide them without deleting them.