Helpouts

Helpouts: Online Platform for Remote Expert Advice

Helpouts was a online platform by Google that connected people remotely through live video chats to get advice, recommendations, tutoring or other assistance. It allowed experts to charge for their time. The service was discontinued in 2015 after less than 2 years.

What is Helpouts?

Helpouts was an online platform launched by Google in 2013 that connected people remotely through live video chats. It allowed people to get advice, recommendations, tutoring or other assistance from experts in various fields.

The platform worked by having experts create a profile and schedule Helpout sessions. Customers could then book a live video session and get help directly from the experts. Sessions were generally 15, 30 or 45 minutes long.

Experts had the ability to charge for their time and set their own rates. Helpouts provided the video technology and handled payment processing, taking a cut of the session fees. This allowed experts to conveniently monetize their knowledge and skills.

In addition to one-on-one help, Helpouts also featured scheduled group events around popular topics that customers could join for free. The service ultimately aimed to connect people to human assistance, knowledge and expertise for questions or problems in an online setting.

However, less than 2 years after its launch, Google discontinued Helpouts in 2015 due to lack of traction. While it offered convenience and easier access to experts globally, it did not manage to gain critical mass and its user base remained low before eventually getting shut down.

Helpouts Features

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