Last year, Google announced that the future of Gmail will see chat messages and group rooms join the existing Meet video call integration. This is now available to users of the corporate workspace, and Google is now allowing personal Gmail accounts to obtain this “integrated workspace”.
This merger comes at a time when Google wants to make Gmail its new “home for work”. The goal is to allow users to do everything on one page without having to switch between other tabs. Since you’re likely to have Gmail open on the desktop, that’s where Google is integrating everything.
Gmail now has four main sections. “Mail” and “Meet” have been in place for a few months. “Chat” is where you can send messages to individual and small groups, while “Rooms” – like their Slack counterparts – are dedicated to larger conversations with shared chat, files and tasks.
This manifests itself as a bottom bar with four tabs on Android, while the Gmail sidebar on the web is divided into four sections. They are displayed by default, but can be quickly hidden by clicking on the chevron. Touching a “Chat” opens that conversation in the bottom right corner of the screen. The rooms open in full screen and replace the standard message list. As seen below, a feature that will come “in the future” is the ability to make Meet calls with images in Gmail.
The functionality of these two new tabs is identical to that of the standalone Google Chat application, with users able to delete the dedicated client. Beside the search bar, which can now search for “email and chat”, on the web there is a status indicator (Automatic, Do not disturb, Set as absent), with these controls in the navigation drawer of Gmail on the mobile phone . Other changes include updated ‘outline’ icon designs across the web interface.
Many free personal accounts from Google today can enable the new Gmail with Chat on Android and the web. This experience is not yet available for the iOS app. Corporate accounts need permission from their administrators. Make sure you have the latest version of Gmail installed on the Play Store to get started, with Google warning you that “you may encounter bugs and other problems”.
To gain access, you must enable chat “Early Access” on each of your Android devices and on the web, as well as Google accounts. Enabling in one doesn’t bring the new experience to all of your Gmail instances.
How to activate the new Gmail with Chat, Rooms
Android
- Open the settings (at the bottom of the navigation drawer)
- Touch your personal Gmail account
- In General, select “Chat (early access)”
- Click on “Try it”
- The Gmail app is restarted with a tutorial and a prompt to turn off notifications for the standalone Google Chat app (if installed)
Network
- Visit mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#settings/chat
- Select “Google Chat (early access) instead of” Classic Hangouts ”
- Confirm the pop-up box
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