Google has been investing a lot of time in its Hangouts application, and it wants its users to use it for communication. To that end, the company is offering to give users the first minute free for “most” international calls placed to 25 different countries through 2014.
The first minute will be free, and you’ll be charged for each minute after. Calls where the first minute are free will say, “First minute free” on the call screen. If you don’t see this message, you’ll be charged for the first minute.
In order to get the free first calling time, you must first add calling credit to your Google account and you can only make one call at a time (of course). The promo is also subject to usage and abuse limits as described by Google.
“Most” calls placed to the 25 countries listed will be free
You can look forward to free calling in the following countries:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada: Most calls will be free. A few destinations will cost USD 1 cent per minute after the first minute. The 1-cent rate may vary depending on the local currency. You can look up the cost through the calling credit page for your Google account.
- China
- Dominican Republic
- France
- Germany
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Peru
- Poland
- Russia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States: Most calls will be free. A few destinations will cost USD 1 cent per minute after the first minute. The 1-cent rate may vary depending on the local currency. You can look up the cost through the calling credit page for your Google Account.
To turn on phone calling in the Hangouts app on Android devices, make sure you do the following:
- Download the Hangouts dialer on Android devices. The Hangouts dialer turns on calling in the Hangouts app.
- If you don’t have the latest version of the Hangouts app on Android devices, download the Hangouts app on Android devices.
- You’ll also need to sign up for a Google Account if you don’t already have one.
And to make a phone call:
- Open the Hangouts dialer. This will open the Hangouts app and turn on calling.
- At the top of the Hangouts app’s screen, touch the dial pad icon .
- Type the name or phone number you want to dial. Or to dial a number using the dial pad, touch the dial pad icon at the bottom of the screen. Then dial the phone number you’d like to call, and touch the phone icon .
- You can also start a phone call with someone during a Hangout. Touch the phone icon , and you’ll dial the person you’re having a Hangout with.
You can get the latest version of Hangouts here.