Today Google announced a nice new update for Android’s Google + application, allowing users on Android 2.3+ to take advantage of the Hangouts feature within the social networking service.
If you hadn’t noticed, Google is taking its social network rather seriously and has added 91 improvement since its debut, with many more on their way. Google has also opened the floodgates and you no longer need an invite to join the service. Google+ gained a lot of traction in a very short amount of time and we’re sure making it invite-only made it all the more desirable. Now we’ll see just how interested people are about Google+.
A few words about the introduction of Hangouts for mobile:
In life we connect with others in all sorts of places, at all different times. And the connections you make unexpectedly are often the ones you remember the most. We think Hangouts should keep pace with how you socialize in the real-world, so today we’re launching it on the one device that’s always by your side: your mobile phone. To get started, simply find an active hangout in the Stream, and tap “Join”
The G+ application has been updated in the Android Market and one must update to the latest version before you can take advantage of the new Hangouts feature. You’re obviously going to need a front-facing camera to utilize the feature, which is becoming a more common feature to find on Android phones today. Whether or not you’ll actually use the feature is a whole other story but we’re just glad to see the option available.
Google is far from done with Google+’s integration with Android and we are just in the beginning stages. Be sure to check out what’s still on the plate for Google+, as the search giant isn’t slowing its updates anytime soon for its new service.
So, if you still use Google+ then you should check the Android Market to see if there’s an updating waiting for you.
[Via: GoogleMobileBlog]