Google Hangouts: Video + Phone

A recent update to the Hangouts app removed or lost the ability to add phone users to a video (computer-to-computer) hangout. Many Hangout users complained about this change, and a forum posting provided  a way to run the older Hangout app to regain the phone calling feature.

Here is a summary of the process:

1. In your web browser address (URL) box, type g.co/hangouts.

 

2. Add users by:

• email invite
• call a phone (use keypad icon)
• share hangout link (e.g. via chat session)

3. Enter a phone number (or a contact name)

 At any time after starting the Hangout using g.co/hangouts, computer or phone users can be added by clicking the "people+" icon to get the window shown in step 2 above.