How to Hangout on Google + mobile

This past week saw a wonderful new update for the Google+ app for both Android and IPHONE. One of the major add-ons is the ability for mobile users to join a video chat, otherwise known as a Hangout in Google+ terminology. One of the major confusions that I’ve shared with many of my friends is how to actually get a Hangout going on the G+ app. I’ve come up with a way that seems a bit out of the ordinary but works quite well for the time being until someone tells me a better way or my phone allows me to do it through the app directly.

According to Google, if your Android phone is on Gingerbread (2.3.x) and you have a front facing camera, you’re able to video chat on your cell phone. Unfortunately it’s not really that easy to INITIATE on your phone. Anyways, you can see how this presents a problem if you want to Hangout with some of your friends via cell phones… someone has to initiate this Hangout on a PC/MAC.

The solution to this is simple enough, but a tad tedious… I’ll go through the method step-by-step. If you can’t figure this out, then you probably shouldn’t be using Google+ in the first place.. sorry.. it’s true.

STEP 1: Go to your PC/MAC, login to your Google+ account (http://plus.google.com) and start a HANGOUT (link is usually on the bottom right of the feeds page).

STEP 2: Once the Hangout has opened, invite whomever you’d like.. friends, circles, etc. Then continue on with the Hangout (you’ll notice your camera is on now, and you’ll see a live feed of yourself and any friends who have joined)… I tend to just turn my camera towards the wall and let it look blank/black.

STEP 3: Go to your phone’s Google+ app and go to stream. You’ll notice that your Hangout is posted as a clickable option. You can “JOIN THE HANGOUT” as can anyone you invited. This is where you can click JOIN THE HANGOUT and also tell your friends to check their streams and join as well.

STEP 4: Enjoy the Hangout!!! There are a few things you should probably keep in mind… you’re logged in from your PC as well as your phone. SO, if you’re wanting to keep this Hangout a live feed all the time, leave the Hangout open on your PC. That way, you can leave/join the Hangout on your phone as you wish, and your other friends can join/leave as they wish as well. If you don’t want to use your PC as the media hub for a Hangout, I’m guessing you could leave the Hangout going on your phone but you’d be using a lot of data throughout the day and also you’d have to mute your audio so that when you leave the app you don’t hear the other Hangout user(s) audio. I’d say just let the Hangout go on a PC at home and enjoy the chat on your phone for now

 

If any of this doesn’t make sense or I said something incorrect, please feel free to correct me. Otherwise, feel free to invite me to a hangout