Slack Google Hangout Integration A few Gotchas

Posted on Monday, March 30, 2015



For running teams Slack is far, far, far, better than skype.  With one exception video conferencing… it just does not have it.  But it has a trick up its sleeve, the google Hangouts integration.  There can be a few gotchas though.






Installing the Integration


I have long though that google hangouts is far better than Skype, once the hangout has been started….   But Skype is far better for convenience, just click on someone and start a skype call.

The google hangouts integration gets you close enough to this to make it work.






From Slack click on your Team Settings menu and click Configure Integrations.








Use the filter to quickly find it.

Click Add next to the Google+ Hangouts  integration.









They give a quick usage guide.

Click Add Google+ Hangouts Integration

You should be good to go now.







How to use it


To start a hangout simply type the command /hangout



This will create a link that you can click on to create a google hangout.







Only you can see this message.   Click on the link.  This will open a web browser.  If this is your first time doing this you will need to give Slack Permissions to open a google hangout on your behalf.






A few gotchas






If you have a paid account, like I do, you may need to allow others outside your organization to have access to your account.  Click on Change then allow.







Then just click Cancel











If this is your first time using Slack with hangouts you need to give Slack permission (this is a one time thing).

Click Continue.






Click Accept








The hangout starts…. And….







A link is posted to the room where you ran the /hangout command.

Anyone can click on it to join the Hangout.  J  Very nice integration.








References



9 comments:

  1. Hey :) Can you tell me how i can change the google account for hangouts. It open every time my business account for hangouts, but i want my private one.
    For Files the take my private one. Thx.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet if you log out of your business account on google and log into your private account then run /hangout from hipchat that would work.

      I added it on my todo list to try it out and see if it works or not...

      Delete
    2. Finally got around to making a video showing how to use Hangouts from Slack using different Google accounts see https://youtu.be/edYDONXhQoI

      Delete
    3. Link may have changed - try this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1jqBn4E8dc

      Delete
  2. Hey, I'm guessing this probably wouldn't work for hangouts on air?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not done a hangout 'on air' But I am guessing no... Unless once you open a a hangout from slack you can convert it to an 'On Air' Hangout?

      Delete
  3. Better than hangouts, try appear.in. no need to sign in to any account. Integrates with slack too

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you have a google for work account, there is no need to sign in either.

      Delete
  4. Is there a limit on the number of Slack users that can join a hangout? Also, is it possible to mute all but a few admin users?

    ReplyDelete