Google Helpouts - A new video chat service where experts can sell their assistance

[Arthur]

Interesting new service from Google: helpouts.google.com

 

Source: Android Police

 

The idea behind Helpouts is that folks with a certain area of expertise will set up an account with their skills, qualifications, availability and rate. Then users in need of a helping hand will be matched with the right experts in a live video chat. The service will be tied into Google+, but what isn't these days? Experts that charge will take payments through Google Wallet, and Google will get a 20% cut. If a user isn't happy with the service, Google is promising a 100% money back guarantee.

 

According to the support pages, Helpouts will work with desktops, Android, and iOS. Experts will also be able to build their offerings like a multi-level course with additional materials to go along with the video chats. None of this is live yet, but you can request an invite for when Helpouts gets up and running.

 

http://i.imgur.com/W3YXhzS.jpg

[dhicks]

The idea behind Helpouts is that folks with a certain area of expertise will set up an account with their skills, qualifications, availability and rate.

 

Interesting - I spoke to a startup company running a very similar-sounding system a year or two ago at a jobs fair. I'd be interested to see this working, and how they'd get around the potential problem of this becoming full of adult content (I'm sure with Google's expertise and resources this is quite solveable).

[Dos_Box]

I wonder if the amount of IT 'professionals' signing up their services for that will correspond with an increase in hi-jacked computers?

[mac_shinobi]

how will you know if the person or people you speak to are actually giving you genuine help / advise as opposed to making you do things that may make the situation worse ( depending on what the original issue was )

 

Presume they will do this for repairing cars and other things not just computers running slow or my computer has malware or viruses / trojans etc ?

[Arthur]

Helpouts has officially launched.

 

Website / Blog / App (Android)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-VFC9AQM1k

Edited November 5, 2013 by Arthur

[unixman_again]

This isn't a new idea. About 15 years ago when I worked on HP-UX and AIX, both HP and IBM hosted websites where you could post support calls. These calls could be answered by anyone who signed up as an answerer. The person who logged the call, rated your answer on a scale of 0 to 5, and over time your points were totted up. When you had a certain number, you could trade them in. With HP, you got goods; my colleague managed a cap, a few T-Shirts and eventually a PC. He did have to pay VAT on it, but still a good deal. With AIX, which I did, it was much better. You just got good old fashioned money. I managed a few hundred dollars over the five years I was involved in the scheme.

[Arthur]

Well, this didn't last long.

 

https://support.google.com/helpouts/answer/6167468

 

Helpout is shutting down

Saying "so long" to our Helpouts community.

 

We have some sad news to share: Helpouts will be shutting down on 20 April 2015.

 

Since launching in 2013, Helpouts has been a home for people to connect with experts on topics they want to learn about or seek advice and solutions to everyday challenges. The Helpouts community includes some engaged and loyal contributors, but unfortunately, it hasn't grown at the pace we had expected. Sadly, we've made the tough decision to shut down the product.

 

Starting 20 April, you'll be able to download your Helpouts history using Google Takeout (available until 1 November 2015).

 

We want to thank our community for all their support — both the providers who shared their expertise with the world, and the people who needed some extra help or advice along the way. You've had a lot to contribute — and we've loved learning alongside you.