Is Google Hangouts still available and running?

[b4rtw]

I really don't want to hate on Google, because they have some of the best services like Maps and YouTube. But why in the world would you use ANY messaging service that comes from Google? Sooner or later, it'll get shut down.

 

[b4rtw]

Re: Is Google Hangout still available and running?

What are some pros for using Google Hangouts compared to other services?

There is nothing Hangouts can do, that other services can't. On top, market share of Hangouts is small. Its more of a fanboy thing.

 

[tube517]

Hangouts is practical for those who have tablets (or phones w/no sim card used as "tablets") and don't want to have to use a phone number.

Google can take their time "ending" it.

 

[Zeus Legion]

I use it with Google Voice to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi instead of cellular whenever possible. I pay $7.07 a month for cellular while everyone else is running around bleeding $40 a month for "unlimited" many don't even need.

 

[Max Luong]

There's one killer feature that Hangouts has that makes it the best for group chats. The read indicator for each member of the chat.
The only other app that has this is Facebook Messenger, so yes I still use Hangouts.

 

[moto31]

Still using Hangouts!

 

[IP IHI II IL]

I still use it to communicate with my friends and family, but I'm waiting for Chat & Meet to come out of GSuite for the rest of us to use...

 

[BergerKing]

I use Hangouts to keep up with a couple of friends that also dropped BlackBerry Messenger when they went to a Paid service, and we don't see the need to pay when there are free platforms, and to keep up with a Moderator Team from another website that I'm on in the Mobile Nations family.

 

[John Edwards14]

Yes I still use it

 

[OldComputerFreak]

Still using it here, mainly for Hangouts Dialer, which in combination with Voice, gives me landline calling via the network, and allows people to contact me and/or leave voicemails which are sent to me via e-mail. I travel a lot, so it fills the void for travelling or calling globally.

 

[cnfeliciano]

I still use it.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

Never used it.

Like iMessage and RCS it's only a thing in North America.

Oh wait I used it once in Gmail about a decade ago. WhatsApp is too ubiquitous outside of North America.

iMessage and RCS are both available in the UK. In fact RCS was available in the UK before it was in the USA

 

[bradavon]

iMessage and RCS are both available in the UK. In fact RCS was available in the UK before it was in the USA

I meant "not a thing" as in they're not used with the same importance as they are in North America.

• iMessage is used but doesn't have the same feeling of passion over here.
• And no one bothers with Hangouts or RCS. Everyone moved to WhatsApp and similar years ago so Google are to late with RCS.
• Whereas people oddly in The USA and Canada still SMS so RCS is more important. Hangouts just never took off here.

I tried to get my friends to enable RCS on their Samsung phones (let alone install Google Messages) and none could be bothered to go into Settings to enable it.

A blue dot appears next to every contact which has RCS enabled. In my contacts list I have 2 friends and an ex-landlady who has it enabled, and one of those friends I enabled it when setting up their phone for them.

 

[bradavon]

There's one killer feature that Hangouts has that makes it the best for group chats. The read indicator for each member of the chat.
The only other app that has this is Facebook Messenger, so yes I still use Hangouts.

WhatsApp too.

 

[bradavon]

I use it with Google Voice to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi instead of cellular whenever possible. I pay $7.07 a month for cellular while everyone else is running around bleeding $40 a month for "unlimited" many don't even need.

Wish Google Voice was available outside of the USA .

 

[John Swenson]

Use it at my business every day, return calls, send text, show images of products, bounce between my computer and phone, I love it!

 

[Michael Pitts2]

I still use it!

 

[jameny5]

I like Google Messages because next to the chat box where you type in - there is a + plus to the left of it. You click it and you can add emojis, pictures, take a picture, add an attachment, gifs and a few other things. It is nicely housed in that one area. I switched to Verizon Messages+ because I couldn't hear my notification sound for my texts. I don't think you can add jifs. These two apps are very similar. I give the edge to Google but Verizon let's you send a contact, your location using Glympse and send places using Yelp. <---- Verizon's are more interesting.

 

[hallux]

Google Messages

Different app. Hangouts also does the things you note..

 

[JSNovinski]

Hi guys

A while ago I heard that Google Hangouts is shutting down and replaced with Google Messages. Fast toward today and I still see tech tubers like Mr. Mobile still using Google Hangouts.

So now I want to know if Google Hangout, and the entire Google Hangouts apps, still available and still running and working?

I use it still, it is great to use as alternative for wifi calling, my kids have smartphones but without paying for a phone bill for mobile services, so it enables them to call me on public wifi like at school when they forget something or need to be picked up.