Hangouts targets improved call quality and speed with peer-to-peer connections

08.02.2016
Hangouts will now seek to establish peer-to-peer connections for new calls, a move that should improve the speed and quality of connections.

A Reddit user spotted the change when initiating the call recently. Also, Google launched a help page that outlines how the upgrade works, including the caveat that P2P connections will reveal your IP address. 

A Google representative confirmed to Venturebeat that Google will roll out the change across all platforms: Android, iOS, and the web. So you may see such an improvement next time you use Hangouts to make a voice call.

Why this matters: This move should help Hangouts with better call quality, which I’ve found to often be a subpar and frustrating experience. Google notes this feature will kick in when possible, so don’t expect to see it every single time. 

(www.greenbot.com)

Derek Walter