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Google is giving you free international calling… but there’s a huge catch

Published Oct 30th, 2014 10:00PM EDT
Google Hangouts Free International Calling

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Everyone loves the idea of being able to make free international calls on their phones and now Google is letting you do so… but only for a minute. Google this week announced that “the first minute of calls to phone numbers in twenty-five different countries is now free” if you make those calls using Google’s Hangouts mobile app.

RELATED: Is Google about to pick a fight with wireless carriers?

While this free minute might not sound like very much, Google points out that you can actually say quite a bit over that time and that this new feature is somewhat like leaving a live voicemail to someone who’s overseas. And of course, if you want more time to talk with someone in another country on Hangouts, Google will let you do so for a price.

“Don’t worry, if you need a bit more than a minute, we’ve got you covered there too,” writes Google. “As always, phone calls with Hangouts are free for most numbers in the US and Canada, and our international rates are super low. You can make phone calls from every device where you use Hangouts, and with Hangouts Dialer on Android.”

To learn more about this feature and to see a list of things you can say in only a minute, check out Google’s post at the source link below.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.