4 ms·

Did Google+ Hangout just kill Skype video?

20 points by amirmc 15y ago

codeherb 15y ago
Google hangout = multiple people with video + chat + you tube sharing! It's pretty awesome. Now only if they can get enough people on it ;)
- ryandvm 15y ago
  For some strange reason Google has yet again decided to leave Google Apps users, who are perhaps their most ardent fan base, out in the cold again. - Wishing I Could Try Plus
  - RyanKearney 15y ago
    Still waiting to use profiles... We did finally get Groups though!
  - jtreminio 15y ago
    Join #kohana on Freenode and message jtreminio - I'll send you an invite.
jasongullickson 15y ago
Not until it supports mobile devices.
- amirmc 15y ago
  It's possible there's something in the pipeline for Android. However, I've rarely used Skype from my mobile devices since it's easier to just call someone (I'm also more likely to have their number than their skypeID). Also, I've never tried a conference call via the Skype apps. Is that possible?
  - jasongullickson 15y ago
    Yes but this article is about using Skype for video calling. Until FaceTime works over 3G skype seems to be the best solution.
WrkInProgress 15y ago
From the blog post "Disclaimer: I still haven't tried Hangout, not enough people in my circles yet." I don't think Google Hangout will have the same use case as most Skype video calls/chats (which are a one to one communication, or at least I would assume). I think if anything (and this may be OT), companies like Path and the numerous group messaging apps should be the ones concerned with Circles and Huddle respectively.
- amirmc 15y ago
  True, I haven't tried it (yet). There may be different use cases but there are still extra hurdles to using skype e.g sharing SkypeIDs and 'connecting', whereas on Hangout, that part is already covered. I can see that being pretty valuable once there are more people on the platform. However, if I have the option, I think I'd rather run a conference call in Hangout than in Skype. The one issue would be that Hangouts are displayed to a circle whereas a Skype call is private to the people invited. Of course it would be trivial to set up a circle just for one hangout but that's still an extra step.
  - TheOnly92 15y ago
    AFAIK, hangout seems to be a much casual thing. If you want to find specific targets I don't think you can do that with hangout. However I don't have an invite yet so I might be wrong.
    - warseph 15y ago
      As everything in Google+ you can choose a Circle, all your Circles, your Extended Circle, or just choose contact by contact, I think it's definitely a Skype killer :)
pg_bot 15y ago
The biggest problem that I have with skype is that there is not an easy way to know who else has it. If google can fix that small issue, it will be able to render skype useless for me.
reustle 15y ago
I think Microsoft will kill Skype before Google+ Hangout does
moondowner 15y ago
I have high hopes they do.
docmarionum1 15y ago
I tried it out last night with a couple of friends. It certainly works fine, quality is good and all. And it was easy enough (aside from installing the plugin for the first time). The Youtube sharing is an interesting idea, though it very quickly degenerated to rickrolls and nyancats. Though it's called "hangout" that shows potential for other uses as well - if they could integrate something like shared desktop viewing it would definitely be killer. I don't really have enough experience with skype video chat to say if this is as good or better, but it does seem promising.
stephen_dryden 15y ago
From what I've seen it has the potential to dethrone Skype but the major issue they have to overcome is that Skype is a household name when it comes to video calling. It's similar to how everybody still says 'Hoover' when really they should say vacuum cleaner. It will take a lot to shift the mass market away from Skype.
kanja 15y ago
Yes. It absolutely murdered skype. I work with some friends on a project that has weekly meetings, and we've been doing them via phone conference calls. We have simply been unable to find something to handle conference video chats that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Google+ is going to be a major (positive) change in our work flow.
razzmataz 15y ago
It almost sounds like it could kill something like tinychat.
Semiapies 15y ago
I tried it last night, though only two of the people involved had cameras. We were surprised how remarkably well it performed. For group calls, Skype has serious competition. Also, a lesser-known site that is probably doomed? Synchtube.
tommyvyo 15y ago
No it did not. You wanna know why? Because I don't have an invite yet. That's why.

20 points by amirmc 15y ago

Google hangout = multiple people with video + chat + you tube sharing! It's pretty awesome. Now only if they can get enough people on it ;)

ryandvm 15y ago
For some strange reason Google has yet again decided to leave Google Apps users, who are perhaps their most ardent fan base, out in the cold again. - Wishing I Could Try Plus
- RyanKearney 15y ago
  Still waiting to use profiles... We did finally get Groups though!
- jtreminio 15y ago
  Join #kohana on Freenode and message jtreminio - I'll send you an invite.

jasongullickson 15y ago

Not until it supports mobile devices.

amirmc 15y ago
It's possible there's something in the pipeline for Android. However, I've rarely used Skype from my mobile devices since it's easier to just call someone (I'm also more likely to have their number than their skypeID). Also, I've never tried a conference call via the Skype apps. Is that possible?
- jasongullickson 15y ago
  Yes but this article is about using Skype for video calling. Until FaceTime works over 3G skype seems to be the best solution.

WrkInProgress 15y ago

From the blog post "Disclaimer: I still haven't tried Hangout, not enough people in my circles yet." I don't think Google Hangout will have the same use case as most Skype video calls/chats (which are a one to one communication, or at least I would assume). I think if anything (and this may be OT), companies like Path and the numerous group messaging apps should be the ones concerned with Circles and Huddle respectively.

amirmc 15y ago
True, I haven't tried it (yet). There may be different use cases but there are still extra hurdles to using skype e.g sharing SkypeIDs and 'connecting', whereas on Hangout, that part is already covered. I can see that being pretty valuable once there are more people on the platform. However, if I have the option, I think I'd rather run a conference call in Hangout than in Skype. The one issue would be that Hangouts are displayed to a circle whereas a Skype call is private to the people invited. Of course it would be trivial to set up a circle just for one hangout but that's still an extra step.
- TheOnly92 15y ago
  AFAIK, hangout seems to be a much casual thing. If you want to find specific targets I don't think you can do that with hangout. However I don't have an invite yet so I might be wrong.
  - warseph 15y ago
    As everything in Google+ you can choose a Circle, all your Circles, your Extended Circle, or just choose contact by contact, I think it's definitely a Skype killer :)

pg_bot 15y ago

The biggest problem that I have with skype is that there is not an easy way to know who else has it. If google can fix that small issue, it will be able to render skype useless for me.

reustle 15y ago

I think Microsoft will kill Skype before Google+ Hangout does

moondowner 15y ago

I have high hopes they do.

docmarionum1 15y ago

I tried it out last night with a couple of friends. It certainly works fine, quality is good and all. And it was easy enough (aside from installing the plugin for the first time). The Youtube sharing is an interesting idea, though it very quickly degenerated to rickrolls and nyancats. Though it's called "hangout" that shows potential for other uses as well - if they could integrate something like shared desktop viewing it would definitely be killer. I don't really have enough experience with skype video chat to say if this is as good or better, but it does seem promising.

stephen_dryden 15y ago

From what I've seen it has the potential to dethrone Skype but the major issue they have to overcome is that Skype is a household name when it comes to video calling. It's similar to how everybody still says 'Hoover' when really they should say vacuum cleaner. It will take a lot to shift the mass market away from Skype.

kanja 15y ago

Yes. It absolutely murdered skype. I work with some friends on a project that has weekly meetings, and we've been doing them via phone conference calls. We have simply been unable to find something to handle conference video chats that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Google+ is going to be a major (positive) change in our work flow.

razzmataz 15y ago

It almost sounds like it could kill something like tinychat.

Semiapies 15y ago

I tried it last night, though only two of the people involved had cameras. We were surprised how remarkably well it performed. For group calls, Skype has serious competition. Also, a lesser-known site that is probably doomed? Synchtube.

tommyvyo 15y ago

No it did not. You wanna know why? Because I don't have an invite yet. That's why.