Google Rolls Out Voice and Video Call Features to Gmail App

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Google has added the ability to join one-on-one Google Chat voice and video calls from within the Gmail app, the company has announced.

gmail calls
Before now, it was possible to make calls from within the Gmail app on iOS and Android, but users had to send an invite to a Google Meet video conferencing call, which was more convoluted and limiting.

In future, however, users will be able to tap new phone and video icons that appear in the upper right corner of individual one-on-one chat screens in the Google Chat section of the app.

In addition, users who initiate a call from the Google Chat app will now be redirected to the Gmail app, highlighting Google's intention of putting the Gmail app at the center of its communication platforms.

The call feature is rolling out from December 6 for everyone with Google Workspace, G Suite, or personal Google accounts.

(Via The Verge.)

Tag: Gmail

Top Rated Comments

Mousse Avatar
Mousse
20 months ago
Crikey! Google is gonna do to Gmail what Apple did to iTunes, what MS did to Words--bloat, bloat, bloat.

Gawd, I miss the 80's Unix philosophy: "A program should do one thing and do it well."
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlixSPQR Avatar
AlixSPQR
20 months ago
I uninstalled the Gmail app some time ago because it wants to do too much (Meet and 2FA, notably). That decision was obviously correct.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eddy Munn Avatar
Eddy Munn
20 months ago
Here we go again!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dysamoria Avatar
dysamoria
20 months ago
So this already bloated 340MB app will get another 200+MB more bloated.

An EMAIL app does not need video/audio calling features.

This is the only Google product I still use and I’ve hated every minute of it. I really need to move all my online accounts off of GMail.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LoveTo Avatar
LoveTo
20 months ago
Oh yeah. It must’ve been tough to try to extract data, while trying to eavesdrop on a FaceTime call with the help of secondary gadgets like Google home. With the call placed via a Google service, it would be much simpler as Google would get a copy of the clear video of the conversation. And yes, it would obviously be “End-to-end encrypted” ?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
wanha
20 months ago
Only a matter of time before Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint all get Chat, Voice and Video Calling features.

A video call used to be a cool product/service, but now it's mainly just a feature that is added just about everywhere.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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