Last week, we saw how the Google chat site was receiving some tweaks and Hangouts-style chat windows. This redesign of Google chat has now been implemented for free accounts and is interesting and directly part of Gmail.
Google is starting to migrate users from classic Hangouts to the free version of Chat. This is based on how Workspace customers have long been able to invite any Gmail account to select conversations. In both cases, personal Google accounts can download the chat apps on Android or iOS, as well as the web client.
As part of this change, visiting chat.google.com redirects users to:
mail.google.com/mail/u/0/chat/#chat/welcome
This loads the new UI that started appearing last week. It looks more like the Gmail web app – even the loading screen – than the version of Chat available to paying customers. The top bar features a search bar, settings and a drop-down menu to determine whether you are “Active”, “Do not disturb” or “Set as absent”.
A navigation drawer lists “chat” conversations – both individually and in groups – and larger rooms. There is also a “Meet” shortcut to start or join a video call. The sidebar can be minimized by clicking on the hamburger button so that only profile avatars appear.
The main improvement is the ability to fit conversations into compact windows that match the classic Hangouts experience in Gmail. Conversations start to appear on the right and can be further minimized. All features are available in this small window, including the insertion of Google Drive and invitations to video calls. As noted earlier, this is a major productivity improvement:
In addition to being quite familiar to old Gmail users, it is an efficient way to talk to several people at the same time. For example, it would be very convenient to have a room on the main screen and several windows fitted, so that constant change is not necessary.
This new Google Chat design that integrates with Gmail is likely to reach Workspace customers soon. Alternatively, this may only be for the free version of Chat.
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