Google Plus Opens to Everyone; Google Hangouts Incoming

By Elton Jones, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Now everyone can access Google's social network, Google+, without having to be invited by those already on the site. Google opened the doors of Google+ to all Tuesday morning.

Ever since Google debuted Google+ last June, Google had required invitations in order to join. Those already on the site invited their friends to the service. As of Tuesday, anyone can use the service. Google+ is now officially entering into its "beta" phase yet is still being improved. A videoconference service is also making its way to Google+.

Google has made more than 100 feature improvements to Google+, including the ability to search for Web content without exiting the social network.

Also new is the ability to access group video chats through smartphones. Called "Hangouts" on Google+, this new feature will only be available on phones with front-facing cameras running the latest versions of Google's Android operating system. "Hangouts" is also being prepared as a broadcast medium called "Hangouts On Air." Any user can tune into a broadcast, including the one starring Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am that will debut Wednesday night.

Google has also stated that Apple will soon make the service available on its iPhone and iPad platforms.

Google's Senior Vice President of Engineering Vic Gundotra wrote about the service and its new features in a recent blog post.

"We're nowhere near done, but with the improvements we've made so far we're ready to move from field trial to beta, and introduce our 100th feature: open sign-ups. This way anyone can visit Google.com/+, join the project, and connect with the people they care about,” he wrote.

Dave Girouard, manager of Google's cloud applications for consumers, schools, and businesses, also wrote in a post Tuesday on Google+: "This is just the beginning of many cool features that our business and education customers will love. Stay tuned – we’re working hard to bring features in the Google+ project to Google Apps in the very near future!"

Another Google executive hinted that the integration of Google+ with software apps is soon to come. Companies will be able to sell this tech package to colleges and businesses for their computer needs.