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Google’s strategy with regard to consumer messaging can sometimes appear somewhat vague. For example, Google decided to stop the relatively popular Allo and put more energy into Duo, which didn’t really catch on. Today, the company makes it clear when it will stop using Hangouts within G Suite.

Google’s plan is to stop Google Hangouts. The intention is that the platform will switch to Chat and Meet, and will initially be available to paying G Suite-customers. For them, the transition to Chat and Meet starts as early as October this year. For consumers, there is still some uncertainty.

Active until 2020

Google has announced in its blog that after the transition, free versions of Chat and Meet will be made available to G Suite-customers. When exactly that will be the case is not yet certain. But there is a good chance that Hangouts will continue to exist until at least 2020.

Google also informs G Suite-users that it brings more functions from the classic Hangouts to Chat and Meet. This will be done in the course of April and September. Then everything is really ready to pull the plug in October. The service includes integration with Gmail, the ability to speak to external users, improved video calls and telephone conversations with Google Voice.

As early as last year, Google slowly started transferring Hangouts users to Meet. This is a new Google video service with new functionality. It should eventually serve as a full-fledged successor to Hangouts. But the development is still taking place and the discontinuation of Hangouts is obviously not the easiest process.

If Google is to be consistent in attracting people to these kinds of new services, it will probably have to be a little clearer towards consumers.

This news article was automatically translated from Dutch to give Techzine.eu a head start. All news articles after September 1, 2019 are written in native English and NOT translated. All our background stories are written in native English as well. For more information read our launch article.