Google has announced that it will begin taking steps to encourage users of the popular Hangouts app to switch to another application. In a blog post, Google stated that mobile users of the Hangouts app will be able to use it until November of this year, but starting in July, they will receive messages directing them to transition to Chat.
Google will automatically transfer Hangouts users' data to Chat, and users will also have the option to use Takeout services to save a copy of their data that was stored in the original app. To encourage users to migrate to Chat, Google has introduced several features in this application, such as the ability to make calls and share images and data.
Ravi Kaniganti, Product Manager at Google Chat, stated, "Chat provides a modern and integrated experience in Google Workspace, and we have big ambitions for the future of this app. Over the coming months, numerous features will be introduced, such as direct calling, direct linking in Spaces, and the ability to share and display multiple images. As we take this step to bring remaining Hangouts users to Chat, we hope that users will appreciate our continued investment in making Chat a strong platform for innovation and collaboration."
