Google Helpouts is a new service powered by Google+ which allows users to share their skills for free or a fee using Hangouts. It connects those that need help with those that can provide it.Today Google has a launched a new service powered by Google+ Hangouts, Helpouts, to allow users to share their skills and expertises to the masses via one-on-one video chats through your computer or mobile device. Essentially, Google is allowing individuals to give lessons to those who desire to learn about a specific skill or need one time help with anything including classwork, automotive issues, or a new language.
How to sign up
Currently the service is not operational; however, starting today, Google is asking experts who want to get involved in the service to sign up before the service fully launches later this year. There are different categories of Helpouts to signup for including Arts and Music, Computers and Electronics, Cooking, Education, Fashion and Beauty, Fitness and Nutrition, Health and Counseling along with Home and Garden. When signing up, you're asked to describe the Helpouts you'd like to offer.
The help section has gone live, which has given some insight to how the service will work. Helpouts will work by "experts" submitting a listing for their services, which Google's third-party companies will review just before hanging out with them over video to get acquainted and ensure their live feed is working. The third-party companies include Infinity Contact, Capita Customer Management, and VXI. If you're a medical professional, you can offer your expert opinion to the masses as well, but Mountain View will confirm if you have the correct certificates and licenses in order.
You'll then be notified over email whether or not your listing was accepted. If it wasn't, the email will include how you can change it to make sure it is accepted next time. Once Google is happy you are qualified enough to teach, customers will be able to check the expert's availability or schedule an appointment.
Experts can offer their skills for free or charge for sessions. If the Helpout is for a fee, then both parties must use Google Wallet for the transaction, and Google will take a 20% fee. A portion of this 20% fee will most likely go to the fact that Google is offering a 100% money-back guarantee. This is guarantee is probably one of the main reasons why Google is going to go through so much work to verify the credentials of experts before they can start.
There is no launch date currently, but expect the service to launch later this year. You can signup to offer your services or to receive updates when the program goes live. It does not appear that Helpouts is done being announced yet either as there has been no official post on Google+, no blog post, and the Helpouts YouTube channel does not have any public videos (the video above is unlisted and only available if you have the link).
How it works
You'll then be notified over email whether or not your listing was accepted. If it wasn't, the email will include how you can change it to make sure it is accepted next time. Once Google is happy you are qualified enough to teach, customers will be able to check the expert's availability or schedule an appointment.
Experts can offer their skills for free or charge for sessions. If the Helpout is for a fee, then both parties must use Google Wallet for the transaction, and Google will take a 20% fee. A portion of this 20% fee will most likely go to the fact that Google is offering a 100% money-back guarantee. This is guarantee is probably one of the main reasons why Google is going to go through so much work to verify the credentials of experts before they can start.
Requirements
Google Helpouts of course has a few general requirements. The first is that both the customer and the provider must have a Google+ account. As far as age requirements, all customers must be at least 13 years of age, and all providers must be at least 18 years of age. Also, as stated before, both the customer and provider must have a Google Wallet account for all Helpouts with fees.