Social Media
Chat face to face, wherever you are

Google+ expands its functionality ... again

COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Google+ expands its functionality ... again Chat face to face, wherever you are Catch up with the whole family -- whether you’re on your computer, phone or tablet device. Host virtual meetings Increase your team’s productivity with meetings that hold up to 10 people and powerful tools like screen sharing and Google Docs. Broadcast your conversation to the world Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a global celebrity or a concerned citizen, you can go live in front of a global audience. Video chat with the whole family Hangouts let you catch up with friends and family, whether you’re at home on your computer or using the Google+ mobile app on the go. Up to 10 people can join a hangout, and it’s easy to invite specific friends or circles. So share the latest news and see everyone’s reactions live, or add apps to your hangout to watch YouTube clips together, play poker with your buddies or doodle with your kids when you’re away from home. Free video conferencing for up to 10 people Team collaboration gets better when you’re face to face. Hangouts offers a suite of productivity apps that let you share what’s on your screen, collaborate in Google Docs, view presentations and diagram together. To access these, simply click the “Add app” button inside your hangout to browse and add new apps. If a team member can’t join the hangout, you can also dial the person in by clicking on the “Invite” button and then the “+telephone” link. Calls to the US and Canada are free, and international calling rates are very low. Live broadcasts are only a few clicks away Have a conversation you want to share with the world? When you start a hangout, check “Enable Hangouts On Air” to stream your live hangout publicly on your Google+ profile, your YouTube channel and your website. During the broadcast, you can look inside the Hangout to see how many viewers are watching live. Once you’re off the air, we’ll upload a public recording to your YouTube channel and to your original Google+ post, so it’s easy to share and discuss your broadcast after it’s over.