Google Hangouts is receiving an important upgrade to improve call quality. The company will now start to use peer-to-peer (p2p) connection functionality, and the new updated is already starting to roll out to all users on Android, iOS and web.
To improve call quality and speed, Hangouts will route audio and video over a peer-to-peer connection when possible, a Google spokesperson told VentureBeat.
What this means is that a voice call will now connect from one device to another directly (when needed) rather than it being handled through the Google servers. This move will allow for more reliable calls, better high quality sound.
The downside? Google notes the following:
A direct peer-to-peer connection between you and the other person reveals both your IP addresses. With an IP address, it’s possible to approximate your location.
