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Google Chat will replace Hangouts in 2021 and will be free for everyone

There has been talk for a long time about the closure of Hangouts, just in a year in which its use in Spain has increased. This goodbye has been going on for a while, especially since Google decided to divide it into Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet. It seems that the goodbye of this service already has a date and it is also finally known which application is the one chosen to replace it.

It will be Google Chat, which is currently integrated into Google Workspace, the new integrated workspace for companies, which is responsible for replacing Hangouts. It will also do so in a free version that will be released for all Android users next year.

Google Workspace: a new workspace integrated with Gmail, Docs and Meet

Google Workspace is a new integrated workspace where we have Google tools such as Gmail, Docs, Meet or Calendar.

Google Chat will replace Hangouts

It was a couple of weeks ago that Google Workspace became official, which is currently available only to commercial G Suite customers. Although in 2021 it will reach all users, bringing with it the switch from Hangouts to Google Chat, which will also become a free service. This will be the case both in its standalone application and in its integration with Gmail.

Google Chat will keep some of the main features of Hangouts, such as direct and group messaging, but it is also introducing a number of new functions. Since it includes reactions with emojis, suggested responses, sending to inbox, an improved search, the possibility of making plans with other users, sharing files, or assigning tasks, among others.

This transition between the two apps will take place in the first half of 2021. In this transition process, the Hangouts conversations will be automatically migrated to the new application, as well as the saved history and contacts, so that no data is lost and you can use Google Chat directly, maintaining your chats .

Furthermore, Google also will remove support for Fi and Voice from Hangouts. It will be the Google Messages and Voice applications that will give a similar user experience. The company has also confirmed that due to new telecommunications regulations, both in the EU and the United States, from 2021 they will eliminate the function of phone calls in Hangouts.