Google integrates video calling via Hangouts in Outlook

Google has released a plugin for Outlook that makes it possible to set up video meetings via Hangouts. The software is mainly intended for companies, where Google Apps for Business or a Chromebox is necessary.

The plugin was announced by Google’s business arm through the Google+ social network. According to the internet giant, the plugin can be downloaded for business users who use Google Apps for Business within the company they work. It is also possible to make video calls via Hangouts on a Chromebox. It is unclear why the plugin has not been made available to other users, but it is possible that this will happen in the future.

According to Google, the plugin brings two buttons to Outlook’s ribbon menu. It is possible to immediately start a Hangout video call, but it is also possible to include this in the agenda. Conversation partners who work within the same Google Apps domain can be added to the video event. It is also possible to add ‘external’ users, but for this the video call must first be started.

With the plugin, Google probably wants to ensure that its software is used more without customers having to switch from competing software. Previously, Google did something similar in OS X, adding file associations for Chrome apps to the operating system. As a result, users can set that they want certain files to be opened automatically in Google’s software.