Google Chat for the Web is now turning into personal accounts

This story was originally published 2021/02/25
6:30 p.m.On February 25, 2021 And last updated 2021/03/01
5:59 am PSTOn March 1, 2021.

Google has announced that while it’s been a while, it will split Hangouts into two different services – Chat and Meet. For workspace accounts, the change in chat began last year, but individual account holders were only given a vague ETA of “in the first half of 2021”. For a few lucky accounts, the migration began in early August 2020, and continued throughout the year into early 2021 (we’ve got dozens of tips from the original). Now, things seem more authoritative because Google accepts the transition and calls this a “preview” of Google Chat.

Ars Technica Ron Amadeo is one of the first users to see this and, in his opinion, all his contacts are available on the chat app. This is in line with our expectation as Google promises that Hangout conversations, contacts and saved history will be transferred automatically. Unfortunately – probably it’s because it’s a preview – group chats are still not available.

My Google Chat is now showing this hangout a “preview” message.

It looks like all my personal contacts are working and can be accessed through the search bar.

Now the only missing feature is group chat. pic.twitter.com/Vf8mLahrbE

– Ron Amadeo (@RonAmadeo) February 24, 2021

Ron also points out that video calls made by the app do not ring the receiver’s phone like incoming calls. Instead, they send out an invitation link to a “video meeting” which is not as convenient as it was with the hangout. While there’s no guarantee, this creepy attention will be paid when Google makes the chat app available to all free, personal accounts.

The current “preview” rollout seems very limited and none of my personal accounts have received it yet.