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Hangouts is Google's text, voice and video messenger service. Once part of the Google+ social network, it later expanded into a standalone service and become a tremendously valuable communications tool.
Like many messenger services, you can hold text-based chats as well as voice chats, video calls and full-blown video conferences. Hangouts also integrates with other Google apps and services like Google Home for even more versatility.
There are also desktop versions of Hangouts if you're going to be using a PC or Mac. In fact, it’s actually integrated into your Gmail account on your PC, but we’re going to concentrate on the Android version.
Once the app is installed, open it up and you should automatically sign you via your Google Account, or what Google call a "G Suite account" – just in case you’ve seen that and not been sure what it means.
If you have multiple Google accounts on one phone, you’ll be asked to choose the account you want to use for Hangouts. From there, you should see a blank page looking a little sad and telling you there are no conversations yet. That's because you haven't made any!
Tap the plus sign that appears and choose text conversation. At this point, you’ll be prompted to allow the Hangouts app to access your contacts. Confirm that and you’ll be able to start chatting away.
This will let people find you via your phone number as well as via your Gmail address.
If you’re already signed in and haven’t been asked to verify, you can set it up yourself. Tap the three parallel lines on the top left, then tap settings, followed by the account you want to verify and then scroll down to verify phone number. It's that easy!
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