The company has been offering free text chat and group video chats, but yesterday’s announcement will add voice calling to the plate.
How to get it
According to Google, to get started on Android, you need to download the new version of Hangouts v2.3 that will be rolling out over the next few days, then install the accompanying dialer to turn on voice calls. On iOS and the web, voice calls will be available the next time you open the app.
Should you ditch your voice plan? No
No. If you live in Uganda, you will still need to make the conventional calls through your network’s voice plans. Hangouts will only allow you to make free voice calls to other hangouts users only with smartphones. This of course isn’t everyone in your contact book, is it? Secondly, like Skype or Viber, hangouts uses your data plan to make calls to other users much like how Whatsapp sends text messages using your data plan. Image: Google
