Google is discontinuing Hangouts, a multi-platform instant messaging application.
Users are being urged to migrate to Google Chat, which debuted in October 2022, by the internet giant. Starting today, Google has started inviting mobile users of Hangouts to switch to Chat in Gmail or the Chat app via in-app notifications. Users of the Hangouts Chrome extension will also be prompted to switch to Chat on the web or download the Chat web app. Additionally, chat in Gmail will be made available to users of Hangouts on Gmail’s web platform starting next month.
Google wants users to remove all of their data before November of this year when Hangouts will be discontinued. Despite the fact that most users’ discussions will be moved automatically from Hangouts to Chat, the firm still requests users’ permission.
Google further said that Hangouts on the web will be accessible through the end of this year.
“While we encourage everyone to make the switch to Chat, Hangouts on the web will continue to be available until later this year. Users will see an in-product notice at least a month before Hangouts on the web starts redirecting to Chat on the web,” the IT giant pointed out in a formal blog post.
Compared to Hangouts, Google Chat offers a number of additional capabilities, including side-by-side editing of Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Additionally, it has Spaces, a location designated for cooperation on specific topics. Through chats, teams and groups may collaborate on papers, manage projects and files from a single spot, and exchange ideas.
The company added:
“We have big ambitions for the future of Chat, and over the coming months you’ll see even more features like direct calling, in-line threading in Spaces and the ability to share and view multiple images,” Google noted in the blog post. “As we take this final step to bring remaining Hangouts users to Chat, we hope users will appreciate our continued investment in making Chat a powerful place to create and collaborate,”