Google's (GOOG) instant messaging and video chat platform Google Hangouts is fighting in a battle against half a dozen other messaging, video and voice call services. In order to win, Google believes stacking every feature onto Hangouts will do the job.

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The most recent feature coming to Google Hangouts will offer free international calls, for one minute. This is the latest attempt by Google to step away from cellular calls - the free minute will work on desktop or mobile.

Users will have to buy some credit for Google Hangouts before making the free one minute call, in case they go over the 60 seconds. Rates are quite inexpensive from Google, beating the prices of most telephony services in the U.S.

Google Hangouts already offers free calling in U.S. and Canada, but with this small expansion to international countries, it might perk developing countries to use Hangouts for quick calls to family or friends.

In India, Japan, China and other Asian countries, LINE, WeChat and WhatsApp fight for dominance. WhatsApp has the highest number globally with more than 600 million users, WeChat comes second with around 400 million, and LINE has somewhere between 200 million and 300 million users.

Google Hangouts doesn't have the same reach as these other messaging services, possibly because it is best known for being a video call service. Google's re-branding hasn't made a mark on the messaging world.

TagsGoogle Hangouts, international calls, voice call, Internet calls