Last week, we saw the Google Chat site get some customizations and Hangouts-style windows. This redesign of Google Chat is now available for free accounts and is interesting because it is directly part of Gmail.
Google is starting to migrate classic Hangouts users to the free version of Chat. It builds on how Workspace customers have long been able to invite any Gmail account to choose conversations. In either case, personal Google Accounts can download the Chat apps on Android or iOS, as well as the web client.
As part of this change, visitors to chat.google.com will direct users to:
mail.google.com/mail/u/0/chat/#chat/welcome
It loads the new user interface that started appearing last week. It’s more like the Gmail web app – down to the loading screen – than the version of Chat available to paying customers. The top bar contains a search bar, settings, and a drop-down list to determine if you are ‘Active’, ‘Do Not Disturb’ or ‘Uninstall.’
In a navigation loader, ‘Chat’ conversations – both one-to-one and groups – and larger rooms appear. There is also a keyboard shortcut “Measure” to start or join a video call. The sidebar can be minimized by clicking the hamburger button so that only profile avatars appear.
The most important improvement is the ability to dock conversations in compact windows that match the classic Hangouts experience in Gmail. Conversations appear on the right and can be further minimized. All features are available in this small window, including the insertion of Google Drive and video invitations. As already noted, this is a major productivity improvement:
Besides being very familiar with years of Gmail users, it’s an effective way to talk to multiple people at once. For example, it would be very convenient to have one room on the main screen and multiple fixed windows, so constant switching is not necessary.
This Google Chat redesign integrating with Gmail is expected to reach future customers. Alternatively, it may just be the free version of Chat.
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