In this post, we will be discussing what is Google Chat. Google has always struggled with messaging apps and it is one of the few things google has failed to get a foothold in.
Google has introduced many messaging platforms and apps over the years but none of them have clicked for the users.
There are many messaging platforms for people online and for a messaging app to be at the top, it has to set some standard.
It is more than evident that Google does not has a good history with messaging apps and is introducing or rebranding apps every now and then.
Google Chat is also a messaging platform from Google but where does it stand among the many messaging apps nowadays? Read on for further detail.
Google’s Messaging Apps:
As we mentioned above, there are a number of messaging apps that Google has introduced in the past. The below list contains all the messaging apps and platforms excluding email from Google:
- Google Talk (Is not available anymore)
- Google Allo (Is not available anymore)
- Google Hangouts (In the process of being replaced)
- Messages by Google
- Google Duo
- Google Meet
- Google Voice
- Google Chat
Will Google Chat replace Hangouts?
The question that is asked is whether Google Chat will replace Hangouts. Google hangouts was released back in 2013 and at that time, it had it’s fair share of users. But as time passed, the amount of consumers decreased.
Now Google Hangouts is being replaced by two other platforms, one of which is Google Chats while the other is Google Meet, which is used for video and conference calls etc.
But Google Chat and Hangouts are quite different from each other. The main purpose of Hangouts was to be an instant messaging apps for consumers and anyone with a Google account could use it to talk to their friends and family. The app also came integrated with SMS texting for Android phones.
On the other hand, Chat kicked off as more of an enterprise service that was a part of Google Workspace which was previously known as G Suite.
It has only a few things in common to it’s predecessor, Google Hangouts. Once Google retires Hangouts officially, Google Chat will be made available for everybody.
What is the Purpose of Google Chat?
As we mentioned in the previous section, Chat is not similar to Hangouts. It is more of an app for group or team chats. The app is available for Desktop, Android and iOS devices.
It is great for groups and organizations who can create their own servers on Chat so that they the employees and members can stay connected.
The Rooms feature in the app helps to organize the various chats and conversations. You can invite only those who you want to your rooms and chat about specific topics or events only. This leads to more focused and pin pointed chat rooms and conversations.
Further, users also have the freedom of controlling the notifications for their rooms and conversations. If you feel that there are only a few rooms about which you need to stay updated with, you can choose to get notifications for every message.
For those rooms that are less prioritized, you can choose to get notifications only when someone mentions you. Lastly, it is also ideal for private conversations with a single person.
You can talk to anyone on your rooms, privately, or you could also start a conversation with people you have the email address of.
So that was it from our side on what is Google Chat. We hope that you found this guide helpful. Let us know what you think in the comment section below.