Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is a company that never silently launches anything, but this time, the search engine company has silently introduced Helpouts. Does it sound similar to Hangouts to you? Yes, it does, and somehow this new offering by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) will be tied up with Google+. Call it Google+ Hangouts but without friends, and with teachers that can teach you on any specific subject that you choose.
Google Helpouts is a new way to connect people
According to the company, Helpouts is a “new way to connect people who need help with people who can give help, over live video, anytime, anywhere.”
Right now the service isn’t live yet, and it looks like Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is in the process of gathering people with certain expertise across a number of topics. Currently, there are eight topics that Helpouts cover: Home & Garden, Computers & Electronics, Health & Counseling, Nutrition & Fitness, Fashion & Beauty, Art & Music, Cooking and Education.
Google will take a platform fee of 20 percent for any paid help
It works on a simple idea: Helpouts will search for individuals with a certain area of expertise and then let them create an account using their skills, certifications, availability and their rate. Those who need help with that subject will be able to contact such ‘experts’ (or providers as Google calls it) and then they’ll be able to charge for the session or they can also offer help for free. Google will take a platform fee of 20 percent for any paid help, which are charges for credit card transaction and Wallet fees.
If a fee is charged, then both the parties will need to use Google Wallet for the payment. Both parties can communicate via face-to-face video calls powered by Google+ Hangouts. However, Google says that the “Helpouts platform is different from Hangouts because Helpouts takes care of all of the setup and maintenance associated with delivering your services – from payment, to scheduling, reputation management, and customer acquisition.”
Helpouts will work on desktops, Android and iOS. Google recommend minimum 1 mbps up/down bandwidth if you’re ever going to try out Helpouts. For now, Helpouts surely looks promising as it kind of connects students with teachers, or say people (like you and me) with experts. It is not live yet, but you can request an invitation and you’ll be notified when it goes live.
