Last week we announced the roll-out of Hangouts video calls for up to 15 participants to everyone on Google Apps. This applies to people with and without access to Google+, with either Google Talk or Google Hangouts chat enabled. Starting today, Google Calendar will automatically add video call links to new Calendar events for all Google Apps for Business and Education customers.
As announced earlier this year, administrators can disable this functionality for specific organizational units.
We plan to provide similar functionality to Google Apps for Government soon.
Release track:
Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in two weeks
Hangouts participants will now have the ability to remove other participants from a Hangout. This is only available to people from the same domain as the Hangout creator. For example, if a person creates a Hangout from Calendar, people in their same domain will be able to eject others from the call. Any participants from outside the domain will not have this ability. Ejected external participants will not be able to re-join the call unless explicitly re-invited by a person within the domain. Ejected participants from within the domain can re-join with the invite link. Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release For more information:
Hangouts is now covered under the same Terms of Service that support our other Google Apps for Business products, like Gmail and Google Drive. That means that customers receive 24x7 phone support and 99.9% guaranteed uptime as well as ISO27001, SSAE 16/ISAE 4302 and SOC 2 certification. Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release For more information:
With today’s launch, people using Google Apps with access to Google Talk or Google Hangouts chat will now have the ability to create and join Hangout video calls for up to 15 participants. Participants will no longer need to ensure Google+ premium services are enabled, nor have a Google+ profile. Features such as sharing one’s screen to a team or automatically adding a Hangout to any Calendar event will also be available. Before a Google+ profile is created, a Hangouts participant will be able to:
Start Hangout video calls with up to 15 participants
Include any external guests who have a Google account
Add, change or join a video call in a Google Calendar entry (coming soon)
Join or start a Hangout by URL or at g.co/hangout/ (and g.co/present/ to just present)
Please note that people without a Google+ profile will not be able to use Hangout apps other than screen share and chat, nor invite Google+ circles to a Hangout video call.
This enhancement will be supported in a coming version of the Android and iOS Hangout apps.
Release track:
Hangouts features (launching today) - Rapid release and Scheduled release
Calendar features (coming soon) - Rapid release, followed by Scheduled release two weeks later
A few weeks ago weannounced automatic support for Hangouts video calls in Chrome without the need for the Hangouts video plugin. Starting tomorrow, we are happy to announce that we are rolling this out to all Google Apps users.
Following this update, when users try to start a video call for the first time, they’ll see a message underneath the address bar asking for permission to access their computer’s mic and camera. If they want to change their choice later, they can change it from the address bar in Chrome.
We recommend users familiarize themselves with this change before seeing the prompt.
Over the next week, users will be able to launch Hangouts in Chrome without having to download and install a plugin. This will simplify initial setup and maintenance. Users of other browsers will still need to use the plugin. Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release For more information:
If you’re using Microsoft Outlook® with Google Apps you can now add, manage and join Hangout video calls with just a click. Just download the Hangout plugin for Microsoft Outlook® and you will be ready to go.
Later this week customers on the Scheduled release track will have all new meetings respect the admin setting to control whether Hangout links are automatically added to Calendar events. This new setting was added to the Admin Console earlier this year.
Google Hangouts chat users will start seeing an updated UI in their conversation list in Hangouts in Gmail. Status markers are shown as green bubbles and the displayed contacts are in order of most recent chats. Other features include recent conversation snippets and a new contact search button.
Washington D.C. and the legislative process can feel very far removed from our everyday lives even though what happens in the halls of Congress will have a big impact on our future. Over the last few months, we have seen more and more Members of Congress turn to Google+ in order to break down traditional barriers of communication and have a candid conversation about serious issues facing our country.
As immigration and student loans become hot topics on Capitol Hill, members are turning to Google+ Hangouts On Air to connect with constituents and advocates across the country.
Hangouts allow lawmakers to directly engage with people back in their respective districts without leaving their office, allowing for a real conversation to take place beyond the Beltway.
With votes this week onbills about these issues, representatives from both sides of the aisle have been working to make sure their voices are heard one last time. Yesterday, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) joined organization America’s Voice to discuss immigration and make a final push for reform.
And todayAmerican Action Forum will be hosting conservative thought leaders to discuss strengthening the immigration reform bill with amendments. Tune in to watch livehere.
With just under a week until student loan rates are set to double, House Republicans are hostinga series of Hangouts On Air to discuss the issue. Scheduled Hangouts On Air include:
June 26th at 11:30 AM ET with Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Jackie Wolorski (R-IN)
June 26th at 3:30 PM ET with Reps. Todd Rokita (R-IN) and Cory Gardner (R-CO)
June 26th at 3:30 PM ET with Reps. Larry Buschon (R-IN) and Diane Black (R-TN)
June 27th at 12:00 PM ET Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN)
Tune in on Google+ this week to see how Congress is voting and to learn more about how the decisions will impact you.