Google May Integrate Google Voice Into Hangouts

Google is known for frequently tweaking features related to its products. For the past one year, it has been putting a lot of thought into re-packaging Hangouts. After integrating SMS into Hangouts last year, word is that the company now plans to shut down Google Voice, and throw it into the Hangouts pool. According to 9To5Google, Google plans to roll voice functionality into Hangouts for Android as well as iOS.

Users will reportedly be able to make and receive VoIP calls using their Google phone number on their smartphones, just like the desktop version of Google Voice. However, it is still uncertain whether Apple would allow such an update for iOS, considering FaceTime.

Last year, Google first merged Google Talk with Hangouts, followed by SMS integration with the launch of Android KitKat. The unified instant messaging and chat feature made Hangouts similar to Apple’s iMessage platform that uses one app for both SMS and instant messaging. Around the same time, there was buzz whether Google would also integrate its voice features into Hangouts.

It is highly speculated that the company may launch the new Google Voice-enabled Hangouts at Google I/O event this June. On the other hand, some others speculate a quiet launch without any official event. It’s still remains to be seen which route Google takes.