What is the Difference Between Google+ Hangout and Google Talk?

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Google+ Hangouts and Google Talk are both communication services developed by Google, but they have different features and purposes. Here are the main differences between the two:

Google+ Hangouts:

  1. A unified communications service that allows members to initiate and participate in voice or video chats, either one-on-one or in a group.
  2. Built into Google+ and Gmail, with mobile Hangouts apps available for iOS and Android devices.
  3. Can integrate with Google Voice, allowing users to make free domestic phone calls from their computing devices.
  4. Offers an option called Google Hangouts on Air, which allows Google+ users to broadcast video calls live on YouTube.

Google Talk:

  1. A messaging service that primarily focused on instant messaging and voice calls.
  2. Replaced by Google Hangouts in 2020, as Hangouts took over the chat capabilities built into Google+ and Gmail, as well as the standalone Google Talk app.

As of November 1, 2022, Google Hangouts has been officially shut down, with all aspects of the service migrated to Google Chat. Google Chat serves as an instant messaging tool and has replaced Google Hangouts in Gmail.

Comparative Table: Google+ Hangout vs Google Talk

The main differences between Google+ Hangout and Google Talk are as follows:

Feature Google+ Hangout Google Talk
Service Type In-browser application Standalone client for chat and audio calls
Virtual Collaboration Offers various interactive features like live collaborations and live broadcasts Limited service compared to Hangouts
Integration Can be used inside your Google+ account Can be used inside Gmail
Communication Features Better for communication with more interactive features Offers simpler chat and audio call services

In summary, Google+ Hangout is an in-browser application that provides a wide range of interactive features for live collaborations and broadcasts, while Google Talk is a simpler standalone client mainly used for chat and audio calls. Google+ Hangout is integrated with Google+, while Google Talk can be used inside Gmail.