Google+ Hangouts Now Lets you Add Participants by Placing Phone Calls

Google is making a rather interesting addition to Google+ that allows users to make phone calls to their friends residing in the United States and Canada at absolutely no cost from within a hangout itself in order to have them join the group conversation (no computer or Google+ Account required).

To activate the feature, head over to the Hangouts with extras page first and then simply start a Hangout, within which you need to click on the “Invite” button at the top, and select “Phone” from left to proceed with placing the free voice call by entering the invitee’s phone number and finally hitting the “Call now” button.

Google introduced Hangouts with extras in September, 2011 as something of a testing ground for the group video conferencing feature, where users can share notes and drawings using a sketchpad, as well as screen-share and collaborate with Google Docs, the company's web-based word processing application.

Note that since the feature is powered by Google Voice, the free offer is supposed to last through 2012 with no support for international calling.