Google is bringing the ease of video calling using Hangouts for Microsoft Outlook users without leaving the app.
Google, the biggest free online email provider, released a new plug-in for its Google Apps suite to let Microsoft Outlook users initiate video chats via Hangouts. The latest integration does not require Outlook users to leave their Mail app to connect with colleagues and friends using Google's Hangouts application. This is made possible with the addition of two new buttons in the Outlook Mail and Calendar for users to initiate a scheduled or unscheduled video conference, provided users have the Google App running in the background.
By bringing Hangouts to Outlook users, Google is clearly building a bigger network for its suite of useful apps. The latest move suggests a direct hit on Microsoft's Skype, which has been a popular choice among users for video conferencing. Hangouts users have an added advantage of being able to use the service for free.
Get Started
Hangouts plug-in for Outlook is available for download from Google Tools page. The plug-in must be installed on Microsoft systems at work or home. Office users own administrative privileges to install the plug-in on the system. After downloading, users must run the .exe file and complete the installation.
According to Google, Chromebox users can also take advantage of the plug-in to organize meetings, even without having access to Google Apps for Business. "The plugin adds a video call name to the Microsoft Outlook event, and participants join the video call from a Chromebox for meetings device by entering the video call name using the remote control," Google said on its support page.
Competition
Google's integration of Hangouts with Outlook challenges Skype directly by entering its territory. Microsoft, the biggest software company, announced the integration of Outlook.com and Skype in April last year and started rolling out in August. Outlook users can now choose between Skype and Hangouts, without having to switch between Microsoft and Google suites.
