Google Hangouts for Android update brings merged conversations and more

The Google Hangouts app for Android has been updated on Tuesday, bringing it to version 2.1.

This update adds the much needed 'merged conversations' feature where SMS and Hangouts conversations with the same recipient are combined into a single conversation feed. Users can control whether they want to send a message via Hangouts or SMS with the flip of a switch. They can also merge and unmerge conversations at will.

In a post on Google+, the search giant lists out the other features in the 2.1 update which includes a simplified contact list, home screen widget and a few customary performance improvements. The simplified contacts list clearly differentiates between contacts as 'people to hangout with' and 'phone contacts'. This makes it easier for communication.

As the name suggests, the home screen Google Hangouts widget adds a widget to the home page for quick access. The performance update includes better quality video calls, as well as improved SMS and MMS reliability.

The new version of the Hangouts app is not yet available on Google Play in India, which still shows version 2.0.303. Google says the update will roll-out globally this week.

The Google Hangouts for iOS was recently updated with animated stickers and messages feature. The update also added support for Hangouts to work on the iPad.

A recent report also noted how Google (Android) and Apple (iOS) are at loggerheads to establish supremacy in the race to woo game developers to make exclusive games for their proprietary app stores.