Google Hangouts on Air

Ever since the Internet took off, video and audio conferencing apps have become more and more powerful as smartphones and services like Skype and Apple’s Facetime came into play. These days, though, search giant Google is the force to be reckoned with thanks to the video calling capabilities of its service called hangouts

Google Hangouts have been around for a couple of years now, though these days, the free consumer service has become so powerful that it allows anyone to run a TV style talk show right from their computer, even arranging for guests to appear via smartphone or tablets.

Hangouts come in two flavors… video calls which can connect as many as 10 people to a conference and Hangouts on Air… which can do the same thing but be watched live by anyone who tunes in. Hangouts on Air even automatically record themselves where they can be watched on demand via You Tube.

I’ve used Hangouts on Air to interview people for TV reports, make personal appearances at events across the country an to hold meetings with work colleagues.

Best part of it all is it is free to use and so easy to set up that even tech newbies can participate.