What Does Google 'Hangouts,; Facebook Skype Video Conferencing, Mean for Business Video Communications?

By

Facebook is integrating Skype video chat into its social network, after Google's "Hangouts" introduced what might be the easiest video conferencing feature yet to be made available to the great mass of regular online users.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, said Wednesday his company will offer users the ability to chat one-on-one with their Facebook friends, only a week after Google debuted "Hangouts." Read more here. (Wall Street Journal subscription required).

Facebook's Skype app does not include the ability for users to conduct group video chats.

But Google Hangouts isn’t as good for one on one conversations.

Google’s new hangout product is all about group chat, and it’s free. Up to ten people can use it at once. More here.

Consumer grade tools, it has to be said, often do not meet enterprise or large organization requirements. But you have to wonder whether the Facebook and Google moves will have any impact, positive or negative, on enterprise and large organization thinking and spending on video communications.

One might guess small businesses, as often is the case, might find the capabilities useful. Again, it isn't clear whether that competes with other business class services or creates a compelling new habit that actually spurs adoption of business tools.

It does seem highly possible that Google's features will undermine Skype's effort to get customers to pay a premium for group video chats.

"Hangout is already impressive and has proven to be among Google+'s best features during its extremely short existence," says J.P. Mangalindan, Fortune reporter. Read more here.


Gary Kim is a contributing editor for TechZone360. To read more of Gary’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

Contributing Editor

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Tech Podcast Award Winners Bring Excitement and Enthusiasm to a Range of Important Tech Topics

By: TMCnet Staff    6/18/2025

Tech Podcast Award winners produce engaging, informative, and often entertaining content, bringing valuable insight from industry front lines to the e…

Read More

How Mobile Technology is Driving the Shift to Casino Apps

By: Contributing Writer    6/12/2025

Recent years have seen casino apps completely changing the online casino experience. Thanks to mobile-first technology, apps are becoming the default.…

Read More

Decentralized IT Management: Fad or Future?

By: Contributing Writer    6/5/2025

Managing IT feels like an ongoing balancing act for many businesses. Centralized systems often create bottlenecks, slow down teams, and frustrate empl…

Read More

IT Management as a Driver of ESG Initiatives

By: Contributing Writer    6/5/2025

Businesses today face growing pressure to meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Customers demand greener practices. Investors lo…

Read More

Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Casinos

By: Contributing Writer    5/30/2025

We live in the age of technology and we have come to solve things on the go, whether we are talking about personal or job-related issues. We have come…

Read More