Google Hangouts, a textual content, video and voice chat app constructed into Gmail, is lastly being shut down right this moment. As introduced earlier this 12 months, Google is switching Hangouts customers over to Google Chat, the corporate’s Slack-like immediate messaging app for companies.
Beginning right this moment, November 1, the Google Hangouts net app is not out there. This was the final Hangouts providing out there to customers. The Android and iOS apps died in July of this 12 months.
Hangouts had an arguably gradual demise, with Google permitting customers emigrate over to Chat in 2021. The corporate introduced in June 2022 that it could immediate Hangout customers to maneuver to Chat in Gmail or the app.
Whereas many of the messages and contacts shall be routinely transferred over, all the information received’t migrate to Google Chat. The corporate notes that customers ought to use Google Takeout to obtain and save a duplicate of their information. Customers have till January 2023 to maintain their Hangouts information.
Hangouts began out as a characteristic on Google+ earlier than changing into a standalone app. The messaging service had 5 billion downloads on the Google Play Retailer.
Whereas Chat can by no means totally exchange Hangouts, it supplies extra options for group conversations in addition to safety and collaboration instruments like Areas and modifying Docs, Slides or Sheets side-by-side with different customers. Chat customers may also ship GIFs and use @mentions to inform somebody within the group.
Google has beforehand stated that Chat is a greater means for customers to attach with others. Again in June, Google Chat Product Supervisor, Ravi Kanneganti wrote in a official weblog, “As we take this remaining step to carry remaining Hangouts customers to Chat, we hope customers will recognize our continued funding in making Chat a strong place to create and collaborate.”
