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Google Testing Helpouts Style Video Chats With Doctors

Google Testing Helpouts-Style Video Chats With Doctors

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 13 October 2014 16:04 IST

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Google is testing a new feature that will offer users the option to talk to doctors via video chat when searching for symptoms.

Engadget claims that Google has confirmed that it is testing the Helpouts-style feature. The feature, currently in limited trial, was first spotted by a Reddit user who in a thread titled "Had no idea Google started doing this" also posted a screenshot of the feature.

In the screenshot, the user is seen searching for a medical issue ('knee pain' in this case) on his Android smartphone, and in the results Google shows a card that says, "Consult a doctor if you have a medical concern," along with the option to "Talk to a doctor now."

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Notably, the feature is currently in trial mode and is being offered as a free service to users. In the leaked screenshot, Google notes, "Based on your search query, we think you are trying to understand a medical condition. Here you can find health care providers who you can visit with over video chat. All visit costs are covered during this limited trial."

As of now, the details regarding the new video chat feature with doctors are limited; although considering that Google is saying that the service is free in trial mode, we can expect the company and doctor to charge a fee for a video chat session.

We'll have to wait to see if Google's new attempt to help out users get information about medical conditions works out for the company or not.

Google, last year, launched the Helpouts service for paid live video chats with experts. It is a service that lets consumers pay for live video chats with experts who can offer skilled advice for step-by-step doing things. Pricing in this case was set by the provider or expert.

The service was considered by many as an expansion to Google's traditional Web search, which for years offered users' questions by pointing people to the appropriate Web page.

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Further reading: Google, Google Search, Internet, Video Chats

Ketan Pratap

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Ketan Pratap is the Editor at Gadgets 360. His primary role - debugging the tech hype, benchmarking the future, and compiling it all into precise news, features or reviews. He has spent over 14 years calling out vaporware and identifying the best tech. He’s your guide for everything from chipsets to smart-home meltdowns. When his own batteries are low, he heads for the hills—literally. He’s someone who prefers a remote mountain pass, appreciating a 12,000-foot view that no VR ...More