First Google Hangouts update brings new features

Google Hangouts 1.1.1 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 001)Google Hangouts 1.1.1 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 002)

In the first major update since its release back in May, Google’s cross-platform unified messaging software Hangouts has just enhanced your chatting experience with a couple new additions. Addressing some of the top requests, Google Hangouts versions 1.1.1 features improved iOS 6 support and now finally lets you send URLs, as well as and click on links received in chat messages. I’ve included more information about this update after the break…

The new Hangouts build now supports inviting people to chat sessions via SMS.

And now, if you receive a message when the app is running, the in-app alert will be accompanied by sound to make sure you don’t miss anything.

And in addition to bug fixes and fixes for “network connection bar weirdness,” this release includes improvements to badge count behavior which lets you see how many unread messages there are just by glancing at the Hangouts icon on your Home screen.

Google Hangouts 1.1.1 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 004)Google Hangouts 1.1.1 for iOS (iPhone screenshot 003)

Here’s your full changelog:

• support for sending and clicking on links
• invite friends to Hangouts via SMS
• in-app sounds when you receive a message
• improvements to badge count behavior
• addressed network connection bar weirdness
• bug fixes
• support for iOS 6.0

Per usual, the universal Hangouts app is a free update right from the App Store.

The Android edition can be downloaded from Google’s Play store. It is also available as a web app on the Chrome Web Store.