Tag Archives: Google Calendar

Paid appointment bookings now available in Google Calendar

What’s changing

To improve upon the current capabilities of appointment scheduling, the Google Calendar feature that allows users to share their availability via a booking page, we're now integrating paid appointment bookings into Google Calendar. As a result: 
  • Appointment providers can connect their Stripe account to Calendar when creating an appointment schedule and set a price. You can also create a new Stripe account from Calendar.
set price for appt in Google Calendar
  •  The person booking the appointment will visit the booking page, choose their preferred time, and enter their credit card information. visit the booking page, choose their preferred time, and enter their credit card information

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why you’d use it 

Requiring payment upfront can help small business owners reduce no shows and grow their business further. Additionally, this feature enables you to manage your time and payments in a simple and seamless manner. 


Additional details 

Google Calendar will redirect bookers to Stripe, does not process or store any payment info (such as credit card numbers), and will not charge any platform fees. Google cannot assist with any payment or refund issues. Canceling and refunding needs to be handled by providers and bookers via the Stripe dashboard. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: 
    • For users on Business Standard, this feature will be ON by default and can be disabled in the Admin console. 
    • For all other SKUs, the feature is OFF by default and needs to be enabled by the admin. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about allowing paid appointment schedules in Calendar. 
  • End users: 
    • For users on Workspace Individual, as the appointment schedule provider, turn payments on by setting it up in the “Payments and cancellation policy” section of the appointment schedule editor. 
    • For all other SKUs, if enabled by your admin, as the appointment schedule provider, turn payments on by setting it up in the “Payments and cancellation policy” section of the appointment schedule editor. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about requiring payments for appointments. 

Rollout pace 

Admin setting: 
End user setting: 

Availability 

  • Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits and Workspace Individual 

Resources 

Adding more flexibility to working locations in Google Calendar

What’s changing

Since 2021, users have been able to indicate where they’re working from directly in Google Calendar. Subsequently, we’ve made numerous enhancements to the working location feature to ensure users have better context for in-person collaboration, location planning, meeting room management, preparing meetings for virtual and in-room attendees, and more. 

To improve upon this further, we’re introducing the option to set working locations in Calendar that indicate where you’re working for specific portions of the day. This will help you more accurately reflect your availability based on the physical location you set, which can change throughout the day. 
Adding more flexibility to working locations in Google Calendar

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why you’d use it 

Working from multiple locations is especially prevalent in a hybrid work environment where employees may work from home, an office, a specific building, or a combination. 

Additional details 

In addition, for those who have delegate access to someone’s Google Calendar, you can now fully edit the working locations for the entire day or for specific portions of the day for that calendar. This update is especially useful for people, such as executive assistants, that manage the calendars of others. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: Working location is ON by default and can be disabled at the domain or OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning working location on or off for users. 
  • End users: 
    • Unless disabled by your admin, the working location feature will be ON by default. To set a sub-day working location, select Working Location as an event type in Calendar > choose a location > Optional: Modify time, date, or recurrence by clicking on the time element > click Save. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting your working location and adding your working location for part of a day. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits 

Resources 

Client-side encryption for Google Calendar is now generally available on mobile

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we expanded the client-side encryption beta to Google Calendar on mobile to help customers strengthen the confidentiality of their data while helping address a broad range of data sovereignty and compliance requirements. Today, we’re happy to announce that client-side encryption for Google Calendar is now generally available on Android and iOS devices for eligible Workspace editions. 

When using client-side encryption for Calendar events, your event description, attachments, and Meet data is encrypted before it reaches Google servers. You have control over encryption keys and the identity service to access those keys. 
mobile Client-side encryption for Google Calendar

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

Google Calendar uses strong cryptographic standards to encrypt all data at rest and in transit between its facilities. With client-side encryption, your organization has control of encryption keys and the identity provider (IdP) used to access those keys to further strengthen the security of your events data.

Client-side encryption helps you to create a stronger privacy posture, whether that’s to help your organization comply with regulations like ITAR and CJIS or simply to better protect the privacy of your confidential data. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: 
    • This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the domain, OU, and Group levels. Go to the Admin console > Security > Access and data control > Client-side encryption. Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption. 
    • If you have already configured CSE for Web, you will still need to add client IDs and redirect URLs for your Android and iOS clients in order for end users to access this feature on their mobile devices. 
  • End users: 
    • You will need to be logged in with your Identity Provider to have access to encrypted content. 
    • To add encryption to any event in Calendar, click on the shield icon at the top of the event creation card. This will add encryption to the event description and the Meet video conference, and enforce encryption on event attachments. Other items such as event title, time, and guests remain on standard encryption. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption in Calendar. 

Rollout pace 

Android:
  • This feature is available now.
iOS:

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers 

Resources 

Making focus time more productive with new Google Calendar setting

What’s changing

In 2021, we introduced the option to reflect time set aside for focus in Google Calendar with the focus time entry type. When coupled with the do not disturb setting in Google Chat, users are able to protect their time for heads-down individual work without distractions. 

To increase concentration and bridge the gap between do not disturb and focus time, you can now mute notifications for the duration of your focus time directly in Calendar. 
Calendar Focus time integration with Chat DnD

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: To mute Chat notifications when adding a Focus time Calendar entry, check the "Do not disturb" box. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using focus time in Google Calendar. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Business Standard, Business Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and Nonprofits 

Resources 

Launching in beta: programmatically write working locations with the Calendar API

What’s changing 

Available now in beta through our Developer Preview Program, you can write a user’s working location using the Calendar API. 


Using the API to write a Calendar user’s working location values can help you synchronize users' working location with third-party tools. You can easily update users’ working location based on: 
  • When they book a hot desk via a hot desk booking tool 
  • Schedule a trip via a travel booking tool 


Reading of working locations is already available through the Developer Preview Program. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all eligible Google Workspace editions. 

Availability 

All developers can use the API, however the working location feature is only available for eligible Workspace editions: 
  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Nonprofits customers

Resources 

Assistant and Calendar reminders are automatically migrating to Tasks

What’s changing

In September 2022, we announced that we would be migrating Reminders from Google Calendar and Google Assistant to Google Tasks in order to create a single experience for managing to-dos across Google. Over the last several weeks, Google Workspace users had the opportunity to voluntarily migrate their reminders to Tasks. 


For Google Workspace users: If you have not already migrated your Reminders to Tasks, they will be migrated starting today. 


To help ensure a smooth transition, we’d like to remind admins and end users to: 


Admins: 
If you use a Google account for work or school: 
  • If you want a copy of your reminders data and Takeout is enabled for your organization, export your Reminders data before June 22, 2023. 
If you use a personal Google Account: 
  • If you haven’t already migrated, Assistant and Calendar reminders will begin to automatically migrate in June 2023. We’ll share more information on this timeline in a future update on the Workspace Updates blog. 

Availability 

  • This update impacts all Google Workspace Customers 

Resources 

Improving Calendar Interoperability

What’s changing

When working across locations and time zones, calendar functionality is vital for you to connect effectively and meaningfully with others. Calendar Interoperability is the critical component to help ensure events created in one calendar system are accurately propagated for guests using different calendar systems. This allows you to productively schedule time and manage your schedule collaboratively, regardless of your calendaring platform. 

Today, we’re excited to announce recent improvements to Calendar Interoperability: 
  • Microsoft Outlook users who also have a Google Calendar with the same email address can receive Google Calendar invitations and RSVPs in Outlook. 
  • A default meeting reminder will be generated in Microsoft Outlook if the invitation was created in Google Calendar to help make sure guests using Outlook do not miss events. 
  • Non-Google Calendar recurring events will be more systematically and accurately updated in Google Calendar. 

Getting started 

  • Admins and end users: No action required. You’ll automatically see these updates. If you want to view availability of users in Microsoft Outlook and book rooms, visit the Help Center to learn more about Calendar Interop. 

Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – May 5, 2023

New updates 

There are no new updates to share this week. Please see below for a recap of published announcements. 



Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat
Chat statuses now include even more information, such as: how much longer someone is in a meeting or focus time, if someone has an upcoming commitment within the next 10 minutes, and if someone has an upcoming out of office event within the next business day. Learn more about additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat.


Expanding upon Gmail security with BIMI
Users will now see a checkmark icon for senders who adopted Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) in Gmail. This will help users identify messages from legitimate senders versus impersonators. | Learn more about Gmail security with BIMI.


Manage all spaces in your organization through the Admin console
We've introduced a new section in the Admin console dedicated to managing spaces in Google Chat. Here, admins can see a list of all spaces in their domain, the members of those spaces, and take actions, such as adding members or changing a member role. | Learn more about managing all spaces in your organization through the Admin console.


Quote a previous message in Google Chat
We've introduced a new feature that allows you to quote a previous message when sending a reply in a direct message, group message, or space (if configured with in-line threading). | Learn more about quoting a previous message in Google Chat.

Turn access to Bard on or off for your users
Earlier this year, we announced Bard, an early experiment by Google that lets you collaborate with generative AI. In the coming days, Google Workspace admins will be able to turn access to Bard on for their users, in the Admin console under Apps > Additional Google services > Early Access Apps. | Learn more about turning access to Bard on or off for your users.

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog post for additional details.


Rapid Release Domains:

Scheduled Release Domains:

Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat

What’s changing

Last year, we introduced the ability to see additional Google Calendar statuses like “In a meeting” or “In focus time” in Google Chat. Starting today, Chat statuses will include even more information, such as: 
  • How much longer someone is in a meeting or focus time 
  • If someone has an upcoming commitment within the next 10 minutes 
  • If someone has an upcoming out of office event within the next business day 
The Chat status will automatically disappear once you send a message to someone or you can manually dismiss it. However, if their status changes, an updated status will reappear. 


Additionally, you can see the current working location and local time zone set by your colleagues when sending a new message to them in Chat. 
Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why you’d use it 

This feature gives you a better understanding of others’ availability, helping you plan when to reach out and collaborate. If someone is currently unavailable, you now have a more accurate picture of their response time. 


Additional details 

This feature will be rolling out to mobile devices in the coming months. 


Getting started 


Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 28, 2023

4 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time (if not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.


Updates to image insertion in Google Sheets on Android 
You can now drag and drop or copy/paste an image into Google Sheets on Android as an over-grid image rather than an in-cell image. You’re also now able to convert over-grid images into in-cell images via the context menu. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 8, 2023. | Learn more about adding an image to a spreadsheet.
Updates to image insertion in Google Sheets on Android
Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature
Previously, to replace an image in Google Slides, you could either use the menu toolbar or right-click on the image you wanted to replace and select “Replace image.” Starting this week, you’ll have the additional option to easily drag and drop images from anywhere to replace images in your Slides presentations. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 9, 2023. | Learn more about inserting or deleting images and videos. 
Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature
Attach a document, spreadsheet, or presentation to a Google Calendar event directly from Meet in Docs, Sheets, and Slides
You can already share a file in a Google Meet chat when using Meet in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. With this launch, you can easily attach that file to the associated Google Calendar event, allowing meeting attendees to access the file more easily. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more about using Google Meet with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, & Jamboard. 


Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs
Last year, we introduced an emoji reaction feature that provides a less formal alternative to comments in Google Docs. We’re building upon this by giving you the ability to add emoji reactions to existing comments in Docs. This new feature increases collaboration by enabling you to quickly and creatively express your opinions about document content. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 3, 2023. | Learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions. 
Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs



Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Enhancing tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
We’ve rolled out an enhanced tool finder at the top of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to make it easier for users to discover commonly used tools and features. These refined tool-finding capabilities aim to help you quickly locate relevant features or functionality using your own words. | Learn more about enhanced tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. 


Full HD in Google Meet video calls
For select Google Workspace editions, you can set your Google Meet video resolution to 1080p. This resolution is available on the web when using a computer with a 1080p camera and enough computing power in meetings with two participants. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials and Frontline customers only. Also available to Google One subscribers with 2TB or more storage space with eligible devices. | Learn more about full HD in Google Meet video calls. 


Introducing additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets
We’re expanding YouTube chips to Sheets to help you more easily manage YouTube content. You can also now insert multiple smart chips and text into a single cell using the @ menu. | Learn more about additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets.


New Alert Center notifications for Apple push certificates
The Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) certificate is a critical component for advanced mobile management for iOS devices. This certificate expires yearly and requires manual renewal. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, The Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Cloud Identity Premium customers only. | Learn more about new Alert Center notifications for Apple push certificates.


Set a custom time period for messages to automatically be deleted in Google Chat
For select Google Workspace editions, admins can now define a duration after which their users' messages in Google Chat will be deleted automatically. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about setting a custom time period for messages to automatically be deleted in Google Chat. 


Set Full HD in Google Meet live streams
For select Google Workspace editions, we’re adding 1080p as a resolution option for live streaming video, an increase from 720p. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Standard, Education Plus, and Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more about full HD in Google Meet live streams.


Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog post for additional details.