To start a voice and video chat you'll need to:
- Download the voice and video chat plug-in, quit all open browser windows, and install the plug-in.
- Sign in to Gmail, Google+, iGoogle, orkut, or your Chrome OS device.
Voice Calls
If your contact has a camera icon next to their name in your Chat list, you can start a voice call with them. Simply select your contact from the chat list and in the Chat window that appears click the phone icon.
Hangouts and 1:1 video chat
If you’re using Chat in Gmail, iGoogle, orkut, Chrome OS, or Google+ you can start Hangouts directly from the Chat window.
If you don’t have a Google+ account you can start or join a limited hangout, which only includes the option to hang out with 1 other person. If you’d like access to all Hangouts’ features including the ability to hang out with up to 9 people, share your screen, and use cool Hangouts’ apps, you can upgrade to a free Google+ account at plus.google.com.
Google+ Hangouts lets you video chat with one person or have a multiway video chat with up to 9 other people. To start a hangout from Gmail, Google+, iGoogle, orkut, or Chrome OS simply:
- Select the contact you want to chat with in your Chat list.
- Click the Hangouts icon
at the top of the Chat window.
- Your contact will receive a Hangouts invite in their Chat window. Once they accept your invite, you both can start hanging out and even invite up to 8 more people to join you!
When you start a hangout a post will appear in your stream but, the post will only be shared with the people who were invited to the hangout.
In addition to starting a hangout from the Chat window, you can also start a hangout in Gmail by:
- Hovering over a contact in your chat list and selecting the Hangouts icon
- Clicking the Hangouts button
