Google’s Hangouts iOS app has lost its functionality to offer Canadians free calls to the United States. The app now only lets you message contacts like an instant messenger app, as the option to make calls and SMS texts has disappeared.
Back in October 2013, Google Hangouts for iOS was updated to allow free phone calls to numbers in Canada and the USA for free, from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. It also allowed those with an assigned Google Voice number to make and receive calls as well.
For those using the Google Voice app, it’s not supported in Canada. But a workaround is to create a U.S. iTunes account and log in that way. But with the plethora of messaging apps that offer free voice calls (WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime Audio, etc), it seems free U.S. calling through Hangouts isn’t that important for most.
In October 2020, Google said it was planning to discontinue Hangouts altogether and migrate users over to Google Chat.
Are you sad to see Google Hangouts die a slow and painful death? It’s just another app in the Google ecosystem that eventually sunsets, with another upcoming being the Google Wifi app.
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Hushed lets you make or receive calls/SMS within the U.S. or Canada, making it a great phone line to use for classifieds, and other scenarios where you want to protect the privacy of your actual number. Click here to sign up for your Hushed line today for $25 USD.
Thanks Nevyn
Disclosure: Hushed is an affiliate partner of iPhone in Canada and lets readers support the site.
