Google has actually announced changes that may affect individuals who use Google Meet, Chat, Duo, Hangouts, Currents and Spaces in 2022 and 2023. Andy Wolber covers what Google Workspace users require to understand.
Image: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic People who utilize Google communication systems likely have actually installed a diverse set of apps throughout the years. These apps range from tools planned to support video interaction with pals, such as Google Duo, to discussions with coworkers, such as Google Chat, Currents and Spaces.
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The future of Google’s numerous messaging options is now a bit clearer. The variety of apps that individuals require to set up is greatly minimized. And for Google Office administrators, the management job and end user training can be much simpler. Nevertheless, considering that a few of these app transitions might prompt a couple of questions, we’ve tried to deal with a few typical concerns below.
TL; DR: Access apps from Gmail
Gmail is now a multi-featured extremely app. The Gmail app– both on mobile devices and the web– offers access not just to email, but also to Google Chat for messaging, Google Spaces for group conversations, and Google Meet for video conferencing, as displayed in Figure A. Google Work space administrators will likely appreciate this combination: One app to install, keep an eye on and teach individuals how to use.
Figure A
As the red icons at the bottom of these screens show, Gmail is now an all-in-one app with access to e-mail (left), Google Chat(middle left), Areas (middle right)and Google Meet(ideal ). If either Chat or Meet don’t display as a tab within Gmail, examine the settings. In Gmail on iOS, pick the three horizontal lines in the upper left|Settings, then below the Apps in Gmail heading, tap either Chat or Fulfill and change the slider to reveal the Chat and Areas tabs or show the Meet tab, respectively. In Gmail on Android, select the three horizontal lines in the upper left|Settings, then tap your Google account address (e.g., in my case, [email protected]). Check two boxes: The one beside Chat to show the chat and spaces tabs, in addition to the one to Show the Meet tab for video calling alternative.
What’s occurring with Google Hangouts and Google Duo?
Movement must-reads
Google Hangouts is disappearing, while Google Duo will be subsumed by Google Meet.
At one point, Hangouts had become an all-in-one messaging, calling and video conferencing app. Since then, though, Google Hangouts functionality has actually moved into a number of various Google apps, including Chat, Meet, Messages and Google Voice. Starting on Nov. 1, 2022, Google Hangouts online will reroute to Google Chat and the service will no longer be readily available.
In contrast to the multi-faceted Hangouts, Google Duo concentrated on video and audio calling. Rather than disappearing, individuals who utilize Google Duo may notice that the app will acquire the video conferencing features discovered in Google Meet. The existing Google Duo app will be relabelled Google Meet.
Why did the icons for Google Meet and Google Duo alter?
If you had either the Google Duo or Google Meet apps set up on an Android or Apple device, you may have noticed changes to the app name or color scheme. Google Meet capabilities are being contributed to the existing Google Duo app. Eventually, the Google Duo app will be relabelled Google Meet and the Google Duo name will be retired.
During the shift time, you may notice the present Google Meet app listed as “Meet (initial)” with the Meet icon illustrated in different shades of green (as shown in Figure B, right). The Google Duo app, on the other hand, may be relabelled and displayed as Google Meet (as shown in Figure B, left), with the modern-day, multi-color icon that indicates it becomes part of the contemporary Google Work space suite.
Figure B
Google Duo will be renamed to Google Meet and get the contemporary multi-color icon(left), while the tradition Google Meet app icon will be renamed and recolored to different shades of green(ideal). Will Google Chat and Google Meet remain as independent apps? Both Google Chat and Google Meet stay readily available to set up on mobile phones as private apps. The Google Chat app provides access to Chat and Spaces, while Google Meet supports video conferencing. This is convenient, given that some individuals who utilize Work area might prefer to gain access to Gmail in other e-mail apps, such as Apple Mail on iPhone, for instance. In this case, individuals might install the Google Chat and Google Meet apps to use those features different from the Gmail app.
What’s occurring to Google Currents?
Google Currents works as an internal interaction channel for organizations that use Google Work space. Individuals might access Currents online, in addition to in Android and Apple mobile apps. Nevertheless, in February 2022, Google revealed plans to transition content from Currents to Google Spaces starting in 2023. Stay tuned to Google Work area updates for assistance on the timing and information of the shift.
What’s your experience?
The result of all of this is that the simplest strategy is for people who use Google Work area to install the Gmail app and enable access to Chat and Meet.
What do you think of this combination of apps? Do you choose an all-in-one app or do you plan to set up and configure the separate Gmail, Chat and Meet apps? If you’re an administrator, does it make on-boarding and training simpler, since individuals now need only set up the Gmail app? Message or discuss me on Twitter (@awolber) to let me understand what you think about these changes to Google’s communication and partnerships apps.
