Tag Archives: Google Chat

Start and join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats using Google Chat in Gmail on mobile

What’s changing

You can now start or join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats in Google Chat in Gmail on Android and iOS. At the moment, this feature will be available for 1:1 chats only.

To ring someone directly, select the phone or video icon in the top right corner of a 1:1 chat.


 


To join a call, select the phone or video chip within the 1:1 chat. While on a call, you’ll see a banner of the person you’re on a call with, the call duration and a Meet icon in the chat roster.




Missed calls will be indicated with a red phone or video icon within the conversation and the chat roster.





Who’s impacted

End users


Why you’d use it

As some teams begin to return to office, while others remain distributed, we hope this makes it easier to connect with your colleagues in the hybrid work world. This feature will allow you to seamlessly switch between chat to a video or audio call when needed, helping you collaborate and move your work forward.


Additional details

While you can select “Join a call” from the Google Chat app, you will be redirected to the Gmail app, where the call will take place. If you do not have the Gmail app on your device, you’ll be prompted to download it via Google Play store or the App Store. We’ll provide an update on the Google Workspace Updates Blog when this feature becomes available for the Google Chat mobile app.


Getting started



Rollout pace



Availability

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

Resources


Start and join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats using Google Chat in Gmail on mobile

What’s changing

You can now start or join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats in Google Chat in Gmail on Android and iOS. At the moment, this feature will be available for 1:1 chats only.

To ring someone directly, select the phone or video icon in the top right corner of a 1:1 chat.


 


To join a call, select the phone or video chip within the 1:1 chat. While on a call, you’ll see a banner of the person you’re on a call with, the call duration and a Meet icon in the chat roster.




Missed calls will be indicated with a red phone or video icon within the conversation and the chat roster.





Who’s impacted

End users


Why you’d use it

As some teams begin to return to office, while others remain distributed, we hope this makes it easier to connect with your colleagues in the hybrid work world. This feature will allow you to seamlessly switch between chat to a video or audio call when needed, helping you collaborate and move your work forward.


Additional details

While you can select “Join a call” from the Google Chat app, you will be redirected to the Gmail app, where the call will take place. If you do not have the Gmail app on your device, you’ll be prompted to download it via Google Play store or the App Store. We’ll provide an update on the Google Workspace Updates Blog when this feature becomes available for the Google Chat mobile app.


Getting started



Rollout pace



Availability

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

Resources


Spaces in Google Chat can now be deleted

What’s changing 

We’re bringing the ability to delete a named space in Google Chat to the Google Workspace Business Standard and Business Starter editions. We plan to extend this capability to more Google Workspace editions next year. 

With this capability, creators of a space can fully delete it from Chat, which includes all owned contents of the space, room tasks, and files and attachments not saved elsewhere. In addition, members will no longer be able to access the space, its files, or the member list after it has been deleted. 


Deleting a space from the drop down menu

Deleting a space from the drop down menu

Who’s impacted

End users 

Why it’s important 

Through deletion, you can more easily navigate to and stay on top of your most relevant spaces and eliminate clutter in Google Chat. 

Additional details 

Important note: This feature is not available for Google Workspace editions that have Google Vault. If you upgrade from Google Workspace Business Standard or Business Starter to an edition that supports Google Vault, you will lose the ability to delete named Spaces. 

We anticipate that this feature will be available for all Google Workspace editions in 2022. We’ll provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog when that becomes available. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin setting for this feature 
  • End users: This feature will be available by default. To delete a space, from the dropdown menu press "Delete Space". Only the creator of the room has this ability and will delete the space for everyone. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, G Suite Basic and Business Starter customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace, Google Workspace Essentials, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as Business customers

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – November 5, 2021

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.


Updated emoji experience in Google Chat on iOS
It’s now easier to express yourself more authentically in Chat on iOS. We’re making the following updates to the emoji experience: The Emoji set is updated to the latest version (Emoji 13.1), reflecting the latest emoji set and diversity and inclusion options; Gender-neutral options for gender-modifiable emojis have been added; Emoji skin tone and gender preferences are saved per individual emoji. | Available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers, as well as users with personal Google accounts.


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.


More easily add citations in Google Docs with new search and automated entry function
When adding citations in Google Docs, you can now search for books and online sources, then automatically populate some attributes for those sources.  | Learn more.



Refine search results in Google Drive with search chips, launching in beta
We’re launching a new beta for Google Drive that will help users refine their search and locate files faster using search chips. This beta will be available for all Google Workspace editions—eligible customers can use this form to express interest in the beta. | Learn more.



Enable advanced context-aware access to Google Workspace in the Admin console
You can now configure context-aware access (CAA) custom access levels using advanced attributes directly from the Google Workspace Admin console. You can use more advanced signals such as time/date restrictions, credential strength, Chrome browser attributes or verified ChromeOS as well as third-party signals via BeyondCorp Alliance partners. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus. Also available to Cloud Identity Premium customers. | Learn more.



Google Workspace Client-side encryption beta expanded to include Google Meet and Google Drive for desktop
We’re now expanding the client-side encryption beta to include desktop data for Google Meet and Google Drive. Additionally, key access service APIs are now publicly available for anyone to use. Lastly, we are adding two new Key access service partners (Fortanix, Stormshield) for customers looking for a dedicated partner that integrates with the key access service APIs. | Learn more.



For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Integrate Google Chat with a 3rd-party archiving solution

What’s changing 

You can now send an email archive of Google Chat messages to a 3rd party archiving solution. 

For users that have archiving of Chat messages enabled, the 3rd party archiving solution will be able to receive email archives containing 1:1 conversations and conversations in rooms and groups. Content within the Chat message is also archived, such as reactions, Drive links, and file attachments. 

Who’s impacted

Admins and developers

Why it’s important

If you’re required to archive Chat messages for compliance purposes, or are already using a 3rd party archiving solution, you’ll now be able to integrate Google Chat with these 3rd-party partners. 

Getting started 

Turning on third party archiving setting



End users: 

  • There is no end user setting for this feature. 

Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users.

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 

Resources 

Mark Google Chat messages as unread

Quick launch summary

You can now mark a Google Chat direct message (DM) or Space as read or unread on mobile and on the web.

Mark as unread using the message actions menu
Mark as unread in message actions





Mark as unread using the conversation options in Chat
Mark as unread in conversation options

Mark as unread in Chat using the conversation list
Mark as unread in conversation list


Marking a message as unread can help remind you to return to it later in Chat. In 1:1 and group DMs, you can mark a thread as unread starting from a particular message. To do this, you have to hover over the message and click the mark as unread icon.

When you hover over a message in Chat, you'll see the mark as unread icon
Hover over a message to find the mark as unread icon


You can also clear the badges on rooms with unread messages by marking them as read.

Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about marking as unread in Chat.

Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources

Roadmap

  • This feature was listed as an upcoming release.

New beta to add data loss prevention to Google Chat

Quick launch summary

At Google Cloud Next ‘21, we announced a beta for data loss prevention (DLP) in Google Chat to help prevent sensitive and confidential information from leaking outside of your organization.

Error message shown to users when they try to share sensitive information outside of the organization in Chat
Prevent sensitive data from leaking with the DLP in Chat beta



Adding DLP to Chat enables admins to create custom policies to prevent sensitive data leaks from Chat. Admins can choose to simply audit (monitor) any DLP violations or block end users from sending sensitive content. Admins are alerted about policy violations and can quickly investigate and take action.


DLP in Chat rules in the Admin console
Set up DLP rules in the Admin console


With this beta, you can set all the same policies across Chat, Drive, and Chrome.

You can sign up your organization for the beta using this form.

Getting started


  • Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and, once added to the beta, can be enabled at the domain, OU, or group level. You can create DLP rules in the Admin console under Security > Data Protection. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning data loss prevention in Chat on for your organization.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources

View richer information about your coworkers directly in the sidebar for Google Chat, Calendar, Docs, and more.

Quick launch summary 

You can now find and view additional information about people within your organization, your Contacts, and more across additional Google Workspace products. This information includes: 

  • Contact information, such as phone number and email address,  
  • Team and manager, 
  • Office and desk location, 
  • Whether you’ve received email from them before, and more. 

This feature is already available for Gmail, and will now be available from the following products: Google Chat, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Getting started 

  • Admins: To maximize this feature, it’s helpful to have user data fully populated across Google Workspace apps. Workspace admins can populate this data in a few locations: 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Click “Open Detailed View” while hovering over a user’s information card, or select the Contacts icon in the side panel. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google products side by side. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 

Resources 

View richer information about your coworkers directly in the sidebar for Google Chat, Calendar, Docs, and more.

Quick launch summary 

You can now find and view additional information about people within your organization, your Contacts, and more across additional Google Workspace products. This information includes: 

  • Contact information, such as phone number and email address,  
  • Team and manager, 
  • Office and desk location, 
  • Whether you’ve received email from them before, and more. 

This feature is already available for Gmail, and will now be available from the following products: Google Chat, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Getting started 

  • Admins: To maximize this feature, it’s helpful to have user data fully populated across Google Workspace apps. Workspace admins can populate this data in a few locations: 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Click “Open Detailed View” while hovering over a user’s information card, or select the Contacts icon in the side panel. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google products side by side. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 

Resources 

View richer information about your coworkers directly in the sidebar for Google Chat, Calendar, Docs, and more.

Quick launch summary 

You can now find and view additional information about people within your organization, your Contacts, and more across additional Google Workspace products. This information includes: 

  • Contact information, such as phone number and email address,  
  • Team and manager, 
  • Office and desk location, 
  • Whether you’ve received email from them before, and more. 

This feature is already available for Gmail, and will now be available from the following products: Google Chat, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Getting started 

  • Admins: To maximize this feature, it’s helpful to have user data fully populated across Google Workspace apps. Workspace admins can populate this data in a few locations: 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Click “Open Detailed View” while hovering over a user’s information card, or select the Contacts icon in the side panel. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google products side by side. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 

Resources