Money Rail: Google+ Hangouts Coming to Gmail

Google+ certainly has a ton of potential. Up to this point in time many would argue that it is unrealized potential but to Google’s credit, they are being patient and not giving up.

As a result, rather than panicking they are simply taking and introducing various Google+ features to other areas of the Google experience. Today we learn about Google+ Hangouts now occuring inside of Gmail to get a better video chat experience. Here is a video showing just what this might mean to us mere mortals.

The Google Gmail blog tells us a little more

All Gmail users will benefit from this upgrade, but if you and the person you’re chatting with also use Google+, you’ll get even more from the Hangouts experience. You’ll be able to video chat with up to nine people at once, watch YouTube videos together, collaborate on Google documents and share your screen. Plus, Hangouts has a bunch of fun effects that you can try out…because any conversation is better when you’re wearing a virtual mustache or pirate hat.

We’ll be rolling out Hangouts in Gmail starting today and then gradually over the coming weeks. We hope you enjoy hanging out with your friends and family. Arrrgh!

While I am not so much about digital facial hair and pirate hats the fact that Google is truly allowing users to get the benefits of Google+ in the areas where Google is critical to many folks (Gmail being primary amongst those) takes the whole Google+ experience to another level.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Google+ is going to stick around forever. I seem to remember a time where Google Buzz was part of the Gmail experience as well. But it is hard to compare those two side by side these days and as the old Google social efforts fade further and further into the rear view mirror, the more interesting Google+ looks.

Agree? Disagree?

Join the Marketing Pilgrim Facebook Community