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I assumed that they were rolling out an update to Google+ that will have hangouts as a component of it. They talked about it under the context of Google+ with the statement "adds another icon". They do rolling updates for things like that so I would expect to it sometime this evening.

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If you check the URL for Google Hangouts you'll notice it's pointing to the old identifier for Google Talk (com.google.android.talk):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...

You'll notice this same link is used in multiple locations promoting Google Hangouts:

http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/

It looks like they temporarily pulled the Google Talk app to transition everyone to Google Hangouts without needing users' intervention (except maybe upgrading the app).

Edit: Just installed Hangouts app, it replaces Talk. Also it asked to confirm my phone number, hinting at future SMS support?

The app requires permissions to send, receive, and read SMS and MMS messages. support is definitely coming.

No, it's a standalone app that's being delivered as an update to google talk.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...

Hangouts is a separate app for both iOS and Android, not part of Google+

I don't think so. It gives this error "We're sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server." when you go here: http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/

Plus, they'd include it in the iOS Google+ app, too, if they did that for Android.

EDIT: It's working on Android now.

Plus, they'd include it in the iOS Google+ app, too, if they did that for Android.

Not necessarily. A single Android app can have multiple launcher icons with multiple activity entry points. Not sure if that is true for iOS apps, or whether Apple would approve such a design.

Good catch on the URL, however the package name in the URL (com.google.android.talk) is actually for Google Talk, which is actually a part of....heck I don't even know -- it's just on newer devices as the base services.

You're correct. An iOS app has only a single icon and a single entry point. It makes total sense for Google to release this as a separate app.

Not to mention iOS has been through the "kitchen sink" app design phase before, and it's too soon to revisit it. "Kitchen sink" apps tend to have overly deep, cumbersome UIs.

Awesome! I wonder if those of us stuck in TouchWiz 4.1.x hell will see the updates, or if they're 4.2+ like other improvements I've been waiting on.

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