India Internet News
Google+ and Facebook - which one is having better video chat feature?
11 July 2011
The real war has began over Internet. After few days of Google Plus introduction, Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg assured people for better action and awesome feature. On Wednesday, he unleashed the so called ‘awesome' feature — a video chat, apart from group chat and a bigger chat sidebar. Among this, the video chat feature was supposed to the ‘awesome' one, whereas the actual fact was that there was nothing awesome about it. Gmail had included it years ago. Also the ‘quick' video chat option was already a part of Gmail. So at last, people were left thinking if it was just an instant reaction by Zuckerberg for Google+.
Although being in the beta version, Google+ is far more better in video chat feature. The Google+ has a Hangout feature which provide multiple video chat handling (up to 10 persons). If you have already tried out both Google's Hangout and Facebook video chat, then you might notice that Hangout has several new features that make it far more better than Facebook's video chat. According to him, “You can select any person and bring him on the main screen. You can also mute the persons you don't want.” You can even start Hangout sessions based on circles, and it is also possible to have one-to-one Hangout sessions. There is no need to have group video chat.
These things makes all those bloggers and writers to think Zuckerberg's 'awesome' feature is just a big yawn. ComputerWorld's Richi Jennings suggested that the announcement turns out to be pretty pedestrian. Rolfe Winkler of Wall Street Journal wrote in his ‘Heard on the street' column that, “Facebook suddenly looks vulnerable. Too bad Google made the same feature available in 2008.”
This can be considered as Microsoft's way of taking on Google through Facebook and Skype (since Facebook video chat is using Skype's technology).
Google+ is considered to have won this round hands down. The only thing that is delaying Google+ from creating a greater impact appears to be the restricted invites. Users expect a significant boost to Google+ once it opens up for everyone.