Google announces new updates to their Google Hangouts service that moves the service away from the H.264 standard and will provides users with HD video streaming.
In an interview with GigaOm Google explained that the company has some big plans for its Google Hangout service and that the move from the H.264 video codec to VP8 is now almost complete.
To recap the VP8 standard codec is a fast and efficient royalty-free video codec that doesn’t require any 3rd party plug-ins for users to enjoy video and provides a very efficient streaming service enabling 720p HD video conferencing with 10 people without any problems even in a browser.
Google is hoping to have all Google Hangout accounts switched to the new VP8 codec by the end of next week, with HD streaming rolling out to to all users shortly after. For more information on the new VP8 Google Hangout codec jump over to the GigaOM website for details and the full interview with Google about the VP8 rollout and new features coming to Google hangouts.
Source: Android Community : GigaOm