Google Chat in Gmail will soon allow you to make one-on-one audio and video chats, according to a blog post published by the company. Specifically for mobile users on the Android and iOS platforms, the firm has developed a new version of its app, which is limited to 1:1 conversations exclusively. This implies that you will only be able to make voice and video calls to certain individuals who are now listed in your chat list as available. Gmail’s chat roster will also show you any missed calls as well as data on any ongoing calls that have occurred.
A new feature included as part of the Google Chat upgrade, which was first announced in September, would allow users who have enabled Google Chat in Gmail to view their phone and video icons in the top-right corner of a 1:1 chat conversation. All you have to do is tap on one of these icons to initiate an audio or video call, depending on your preferences.
A blue banner will show at the top of your Gmail screen to alert you that a call is currently in progress. It will contain the name of the person who is on the phone, as well as the length of the conversation. In a similar vein, missed calls will be indicated by a red phone or video symbol inside the conversation and chat roster in Gmail.
Google Workspace, G Suite Basic, and Business customers will all benefit from the enhanced calling experience, which is currently being rolled out to all users with personal Google accounts. To make and receive calls, both the caller and the recipient must be using the most recent version of Gmail.
The blog post stated that “when some teams begin to return to the office, while others stay scattered, we hope that this will make it simpler to engage with your colleagues in the hybrid work world.” As a result of this innovation, you will be able to smoothly transition from chat to a video or audio conversation whenever you need to, enhancing your ability to cooperate and move your work ahead.
The calling improvement for Gmail comes at a particularly interesting time since Google is transitioning from Hangouts to Google Chats. Even though the change was primarily intended for Google Workspace users, it is gradually being extended to all users as the Hangouts service is scheduled to be terminated in the near future.
You may activate Google Chat in Gmail by selecting Show the chat and spaces tab from the settings menu on the Gmail app after selecting General > Chats from the settings menu.
