Slack Google Hangout Integration A few Gotchas

For running teams Slack is far, far, far, better than skype.  With one exception video conferencing… it just does not have it.  But it has a trick up its sleeve, the google Hangouts integration.  There can be a few gotchas though.

Installing the Integration

I have long though that google hangouts is far better than Skype, once the hangout has been started….   But Skype is far better for convenience, just click on someone and start a skype call.

The google hangouts integration gets you close enough to this to make it work.

From Slack click on your Team Settings menu and click Configure Integrations.

Use the filter to quickly find it.

Click Add next to the Google+ Hangouts  integration.

They give a quick usage guide.

Click Add Google+ Hangouts Integration

You should be good to go now.

How to use it

To start a hangout simply type the command /hangout

This will create a link that you can click on to create a google hangout.

Only you can see this message.   Click on the link.  This will open a web browser.  If this is your first time doing this you will need to give Slack Permissions to open a google hangout on your behalf.

A few gotchas

If you have a paid account, like I do, you may need to allow others outside your organization to have access to your account.  Click on Change then allow.

Then just click Cancel

If this is your first time using Slack with hangouts you need to give Slack permission (this is a one time thing).

Click Continue.

Click Accept

The hangout starts…. And….

A link is posted to the room where you ran the /hangout command.

Anyone can click on it to join the Hangout.  J  Very nice integration.

References