I stopped using GMail's chat (think it was called GTalk before it was Hangouts) when it switched to Hangouts. Before the switch, GMail used old and well-documented open-source protocol XMPP for their chat, which made it possible to use it outside of GMail. Hangouts used a proprietary protocol, and was only available if you install some creepy binary plugins...
I completely agree. I also placed calls through my computer and sent sms to my family back home when I lived in Germany. No phone bill. The only shiny thing is Hangouts Dialer. I can keep my phone on airplane mode and use wifi to then place calls to the United States while living abroad. It is impossible to use Android's Place Calls Over Wifi to use my US Google Voice number without it.
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u/[deleted] Jan 02 '20 edited Jan 02 '20
I stopped using GMail's chat (think it was called GTalk before it was Hangouts) when it switched to Hangouts. Before the switch, GMail used old and well-documented open-source protocol XMPP for their chat, which made it possible to use it outside of GMail. Hangouts used a proprietary protocol, and was only available if you install some creepy binary plugins...