By now you have probably heard of Google’s social network, Google+. Whether or not you’ve taken to it is another story.

But there is a trick up Google’s sleeve that may lead it to be the number one business collaboration network on the web, ousting even LinkedIn’s business concentric network.

Google+ hangouts, a form of limitless group video chat, has added many useful tools for those collaborating long-distance. Not only do Google+ hangouts allow an infinite number of users to video chat at the same time, they allow crucial collaboration features like sharing your computer screen for others to see, working on a Google Doc together, planning out mind-mapping charts together and even watching YouTube videos simultaneously.

If you haven’t given them a try, they are unlike anything else on the web. The only service that even comes close to a Google+ hangout is ooVoo, allowing up to 12 people to video chat simultaneously for free, but ooVoo offers none of the other collaboration options of a Google+ hangout, there’s hardly a contest between the two.

Skype offers group video chats, but only with their premium service. And Skype also lacks Google+’s wonderfully integrated collaboration tools.

In addition to features for the business-minded, Google+ hangouts have some fun features, dubbed “effects,” that allow users to wear virtual masks and headgear, adding an element of fun to chats, and maybe even loosening up a stuffy business collaboration.

Truly, the Google+ hangout offers more for free than the others offer even with a paid subscription. So the next time you must collaborate on long-distance work, give a Google+ hangout a try. You may find that it brings web collaboration to a whole new level.