How much would you pay to be ae to talk to an expert and ask them for help with a DIY project or a meal that you’re cooking? For Google, the price depends on the topic or the person answering your query.

If you haven’t heard, Google has launched a new platform that aims to help you with anything imaginable, from recipes to DIY projects, even make-up tutorials or fashion advice.  And the best thing about this new platform is that you get to talk to a real, live person, not just through chat but in a video call, just like Hangouts, but this is separate from that service.

Google Helpouts is a platform that has been in the works since early this year.  It’s just like Hangouts as you get to see the person you are talking with, the difference is that it is a commerce platform.  It is the fusion of Hangouts, identity tools and Wallet.

You no longer have to worry about how put your concerns into words because you can just show it to the expert you are talking to.  The only downside is, most of the experts don’t offer consultation for free.  So you better be prepared to pay somewhere between a $1 to $30 or more, depending if you want to talk to them per minute, or pay for a whole session.

For now, Google has tapped experts from different fields, as well as brands, to help people with tasks, but it still needs more providers to accommodate people’s needs.  The thing is, Google needs good providers to ensure that people will get the best kind of help.

Anyone can apply as a provider, you can offer your services for free, or for a fee, but that’s what Google has to deal with, screening people to make sure people will get the help they deserve.  Plus, in using video calls to help out, there are a many humps ahead like what if the person using the service has a crappy connection?  Will the person be charged more even if he just wanted a one-minute conversation with an expert?

If Google succeeds in this venture, professionals may soon find themselves face to face with clients on small screens, as people would prefer paying for minute-services than paying for an hour-long service.