Google Chat

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Not to be confused with Google Talk.
Google Chat
Google Chat icon (2020).svg
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseMarch 9, 2017; 4 years ago (2017-03-09)
Stable release
2020.10.04.336992968_prod
PlatformAndroid, iOS, Web
TypeCommunication software
LicenseFreeware
Websitechat.google.com

Google Chat (formerly known as Hangouts Chat) is a communication software developed by Google built for teams that provides direct messages and team chat rooms, along with a group messaging function that allows Google Drive content sharing. It is one of two apps that constitute the replacement for Google Hangouts, the other being Google Meet. Google planned to begin retiring Google Hangouts in October 2019.[1]

It was initially available only to Google Workspace (formerly G Suite until October 2020[2]) customers only, with identical features in all packages except a lack of Vault data retention in the Basic package.[3] However, in October 2020, Google announced plans to open Google Chat up to consumers in 2021, once Hangouts has been officially retired,[4] and Chat began to roll out to consumer accounts in "early access" in February 2021.[5][6] Hangouts will remain a consumer-level product for people using standard Google accounts.[7][8][9] By April 2021, Google Chat became fully available for free as an "Early Access" service, for users who choose to use it instead of Hangouts.[10]

Google plans to deprecate Google Hangouts and replace it with Google Chat in early 2022.[11]

History[]

Logo of Google Chat used from 2017 to October 2020

Google Chat was called Hangouts Chat before it was rebranded.[12] Following the rebranding, and along with a similar change for Hangouts Meet, the Hangouts brand is to be removed from Google Workspace.

In August 2021, Google started automatically signing out Google Hangouts users on iOS and Android and notifying them to switch to Google Chat.[13]

See also[]

  • Chat, the name used by Google for Rich Communication Services (RCS) in the Google Messages app
  • Google Allo, a defunct instant messaging service released by Google in 2016
  • Google Talk, a defunct instant messaging service released by Google in 2005
  • Google Voice, the Google telephone call routing and voicemail service
  • Google Meet
  • Google Duo

References[]

  1. ^ de Looper, Christian. "Google will begin shutting down the classic Hangouts app in November 2020". DigitalTrends.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "Announcing Google Workspace, everything you need to get it done, in one location". Google Cloud Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  3. ^ "Compare G Suite products - Chat". gsuite.google.com. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  4. ^ "The latest on Google Hangouts and the upgrade to Google Chat". Google. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  5. ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (2021-02-10). "Google Chat readies beta preview for Hangouts users". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  6. ^ Li, Abner (2021-02-24). "Google Chat 'preview' starts rolling out to some classic Hangouts users". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  7. ^ Statt, Nick (2020-04-09). "Google is rebranding Hangouts Chat as just Google Chat". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  8. ^ April 2020, Mike Moore 10. "Google Hangouts officially rebrands as Google Chat". TechRadar. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  9. ^ Smith, Chris (2020-04-10). "Google's messaging apps just got more confusing: Meet and Chat". BGR. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  10. ^ "New Gmail with Google Chat tabs rolling out for free accounts, here's how to turn on". 9to5Google.com. 2021-04-04. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  11. ^ "Google Chat upgrade timeline - Google Workspace Admin Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  12. ^ Statt, Nick (April 9, 2020). "Google is rebranding Hangouts Chat as just Google Chat". The Verge.
  13. ^ Li, Abner (2021-08-06). "Google signing free users out of Hangouts for iOS, Android as part of 'switch to Chat' prompt". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2022-01-19.

Further reading[]

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