Hangouts is due to close soon - many Workspace users have transitioned away from the service (using to use Chat instead), with private users getting a notification that it will be replaced by Google Chat soon. It was integrated into Gmail and other Google applications as a communication tool, joined by Google Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat, for Workspace customers, which now run without the Hangouts in the name, although personal Google account users will still see Hangouts in Gmail. Google Hangouts was announced in 2013, spinning out of Google+. Google Meet is available to Google Workspace users offering longer meetings and more features, and the price you'll pay depends on your Workspace edition. Google Meet is free to all Google Account holders at an entry position. Thankfully, chat history and contacts will still remain in place in the new app.
It still functions as before, but those wanting to benefit from all of Duo's additional features will need to transition to the new Google Meet app.
Google says that running in common browsers makes it more secure.Īfter the merge between Google Duo and Meet, the existing iOS and Android app has been renamed to Google Meet (original).
There are apps for Android and iOS devices. Google Meet runs in a browser with no need for plug-ins or desktop apps.
It supports video up to 720p and anyone with a Google account can join a Google Meet. Google pushes the security angle, however, saying that it's encrypted in transmission as well as encrypted when saved on Google Drive. Google has been adding functions to Google Meet to make it more consumer-friendly, adding controls, a gallery view, and more advanced screen sharing options, including individual Chrome tabs - although some of these controls aren't as granular as Zoom when it comes to participant control and screen sharing. At a free level, you get support for up to 100 participants, but there's support for up to 500 participants or 100,000 viewers on a live stream at the top Enterprise level. Google Meet is all about video conferencing on the large scale.