Google Workspace Changes

Present to meetings using the HDMI cable on Hangouts Meet hardware

Present high-quality video content with audio in your meeting using the HDMI cable included with Hangouts Meet hardware kits.

Consolidated setting for Hangouts Meet and classic Hangouts video calls.

Google has combined the Admin console settings for Hangouts Meet and classic Hangouts video calling into a single setting. This allows administrators to manage all video calling within their organization from one location found under Apps > G Suite > Settings for Google Hangouts > Meet settings.

Manage Hangouts Meet and classic Hangouts video calls with one setting

Video calling from Hangouts Meet and classic Hangouts is now controlled by the same setting. This means that the setting in the Admin console that controls classic Hangouts video calling now also controls Hangouts Meet.

Video calling from Hangouts Meet and classic Hangouts is now controlled by the same setting.

The setting in the Admin console that controls classic Hangouts video calling now also controls Hangouts Meet. By combining these settings, Google is making it easier for admins to manage all video calling within their organization.

Launch of the Hangouts Meet Starter Kit.

The Hangouts Meet Starter Kit helps organizations migrate to Hangouts Meet by providing customizable email templates, tip sheets with adoption best practices, change management resources, IT Admin Q&A, and printable posters.

Limited support for Hangouts Meet added for Microsoft Internet Explorer 11.

Google has introduced limited support for Hangouts Meet in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11. To enable this functionality, users are required to download and install the latest version of the Google Video Support Plugin. This update is available to all G Suite editions and is off by default.

Beta program for Google Assistant on Asus Hangouts Meet Hardware Kit

Google is launching a beta program that allows users to control the Asus Hangouts Meet Hardware Kit using Google Assistant. This integration enables voice commands to join or exit meetings, call phone numbers, and turn on spoken feedback, aiming to create a more seamless meeting experience and increase accessibility.

Combining the Admin console settings for Hangouts Chat and classic Hangouts.

Combining the Admin console settings for Hangouts Chat and classic Hangouts to make it easier to manage policies and make sure they’re configured appropriately. The new settings will be located at Admin console > Apps > G Suite > Hangouts Chat.

Live captions are now available in the Google Meet iOS app.

Google has expanded live captions support for Hangouts Meet to the iOS app. Captions are currently available in English and must be enabled individually on each device to be visible. Please note that captions will not appear in meeting recordings.

Increased participant limits for Hangouts Meet meetings across G Suite editions.

Google has increased the maximum participant limits for Hangouts Meet meetings. G Suite Enterprise users can now host up to 250 participants, G Suite Business users up to 150, and G Suite Basic users up to 100. These limits apply to a combination of video and dial-in participants.

Material Design update for Hangouts Meet on the web.

Google Meet is receiving a visual refresh on the web to implement Material Design. While functionality remains unchanged, users will see visual improvements including updated, highly-legible custom Google fonts, consistent controls for buttons, dialogs, and sidebars, and updated iconography and colors for better legibility.

International dial-in phone numbers for Hangouts Meet are now available for G Suite Business, Basic, and Enterprise for Education.

Google is extending the functionality of international Hangouts Meet dial-in phone numbers to new meetings organized by G Suite Business, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and G Suite Basic domains. This feature is fully available for both Rapid and Scheduled release domains, although Cyprus (CY) and Turkey (TR) are not supported for G Suite Business and G Suite Basic.

Postponing the final transition date from classic Hangouts to Hangouts Chat to no sooner than June 2020.

Officially postponing the final transition date (i.e. phase 4 in this timeline) to no sooner than June 2020. In the interim, Google will continue to improve the transition experience of classic Hangouts group conversations, as well as add new Chat features like Read receipts.

Hangouts Meet is launching adaptive layouts that automatically adjust to give you the best view of the people and presentations in your meeting

Hangouts Meet is launching adaptive layouts that automatically adjust to give you the best view of the people and presentations in your meeting: Spotlight, Tiled, Side by side, Sidebar. In addition to seeing these layouts automatically used depending on the meeting needs, users can select a preferred layout from the Change layout dialog.

Moving notification settings for classic Hangouts conversations to notification channels on O+ Android devices.

Moving notification settings for classic Hangouts conversations to notification channels on O+ Android devices. With these changes, customized ring tones and chat messaging tones per conversation/contact will be removed and defaulted to the general app settings.