Google to launch Chat service called Hangouts: Confirmed

Google's new unified chat system set to launch as Google Hangouts.



In our report we mentioned that Google might be going to dub its upcoming Google Chat revamp and unified communication platform as “Hangouts.” Now, more evidence has appeared online suggesting that it is indeed true and we will be seeing Google Hangouts at I/O 2013 in the next five days.

Google Hangouts (previously code-named Babel) will be integrating all of Google communication offering like Google Chat, Gmail Chat, Google+ Hangouts and more in one app, which will accessible across the operating systems and platform.

Google is expected to unveil Google Hangouts Android, Chrome, iOS apps and it will be integrated in Google+ and Gmail.

Here are some of the Google Hangouts features, which were spotted in a JS file hosted on Gmail servers making it pretty authentic.

• Access the same conversation list from anywhere
• A new, conversation-based UI
• Advanced group conversations
• Send pictures
• Improved notifications across devices

Let it all hang out

Those of you with functioning memories will know that Google Hangouts is already the name for video calling through Google+; the new service brings the branding to more services like G-chat.

Not much else is new on the service since our last round of grabs, our source says, other than some emoticons being different colours. Do try to control yourselves.

We were also told that Googlers received an email yesterday about Google I/O which thanked staff for their work on some of the products they've been testing, which our source says indicates that Google Hangouts will be unveiled for real at the show next week.