Google Meet Videoconferencing Will Be Free for Everyone From Next Month

[MacRumors]

Google has announced that its Meet videoconferencing service will be free to use for anyone with a Google account from next month.

Following a gradual rollout through May, Meet will no longer be exclusive to paying G-Suite members, and will remain open to Google account holders until September 30, 2020.

Google Meet offers many of the features that have made Zoom so popular in recent weeks, including video conferencing for up to 100 participants, the option to schedule meetings, and screen-sharing capabilities.

We've invested years in making Meet a secure and reliable video conferencing solution that's trusted by schools, governments and enterprises around the world, and in recent months we've accelerated the release of top-requested features to make it even more helpful. Starting in early May, anyone with an email address can sign up for Meet and enjoy many of the same features available to our business and education users, such as simple scheduling and screen sharing, real-time captions, and layouts that adapt to your preference, including an expanded tiled view.

Google Meet usually imposes a 60-minute time limit on meetings for non-paying users, but the company is lifting the limit for the period of its availability to all Google account holders. Given Zoom's recent troubles, Google is also keen to underscore the privacy and security of the platform - Meet video meetings are encrypted in transit, and all recordings stored in Google Drive are encrypted in transit and at rest.

Anyone interested in using Google Meet can download the Hangouts Meet iOS app from the App Store or head to meet.google.com to use the web browser version. As the rollout is gradual, users can sign up to be notified when it's available.

Article Link: Google Meet Videoconferencing Will Be Free for Everyone From Next Month

 

[thecybernerd]

This is definitely welcome news but I wish Apple would make FaceTime /iMessage available to more users by bringing it to the web and android.

 

[mattopotamus]

We use this at work, and it’s probably the most basic clean interface compared to the others.

 

[69Mustang]

This is definitely welcome news but I wish Apple would make FaceTime /iMessage available to more users by bringing it to the web and android.

VirnetX wishes they would do it too. Nice big fat licensing fees.

 

[satchmo]

This is definitely welcome news but I wish Apple would make FaceTime /iMessage available to more users by bringing it to the web and android.

iMessage has become such a strong reason to buy an iPhone, I’m not sure Apple will ever go there.
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[TheCoolGuy]

They are adding some 'extra code'.

 

[msp3]

So is "Google Meet" the same thing as Google "Chat"? Hangouts? Allo? Duo??

 

[yellow8]

Using Facetime here but two issues:

• Restricted to Apple users
• The bouncing bubbles (speaker image increasing to take more space on the screen) make some people sick

Won't make me use a Google solution though.

 

[JosephAW]

Face recognition scanning come free too

 

[Sasparilla]

This is good to see Google doing this. A bit too late for mindshare, but IMHO, they're a much better option than the execs over at Zoom.

So is "Google Meet" the same thing as Google "Chat"? Hangouts? Allo? Duo??

Of course not, this is Google. Duo is tied to a phone number and is end to end encrypted.

Meet was definitely angled at corporate land.

Too bad Google didn't have this ready a month or two ago. Like Facebook, the Zoom pony (another terribly run company that has directly lied to users / customers about security of the app, routing conversations through China where the app is developed..it goes on etc.) has already left the barn with the mindshare / marketshare.

 

[lyngo]

Every time I use Google Meet teaching my online classes, the quality of it stinks compared to other online videoconferencing. This is from my own experiences.

 

[Aston441]

So is "Google Meet" the same thing as Google "Chat"? Hangouts? Allo? Duo??

omg this literally made me lol

omg lol

 

[sickoagb]

It actually lets you have more than 100 participants! Recently I was in one with about 115 applicants.

 

[wdwpsu]

Facebook is pushing forward with theirs as well. Ya know. I don't want the companies that I trust the least with my privacy leading the way in the video conference front. I'll stick to Zoom, Webex and Bluejeans thank you.

 

[ghanwani]

Face recognition scanning come free too

... and due to an as yet undiscovered bug, this feature works even when video is disabled!

 

[Itada]

I'm sure that's an accurate representation of how everyone will look on their webcams too.

 

[1369281]

It’s always nice to have more options available, but Zoom has been rock solid throughout this entire pandemic. No issues with it whatsoever.

 

[riverfreak]

Using Facetime here but two issues:

• Restricted to Apple users
• The bouncing bubbles (speaker image increasing to take more space on the screen) make some people sick

Won't make me use a Google solution though.

The bouncing bubbles are cute, but way, way too slow for a normal conversation and an actual impediment with more than a handful of people.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I'm getting app fatigue from all these video apps, and Google itself has several already.

Hangouts, Facetime, Skype, Teams, WebEx, Zoom, Meet, Duo, Facebook, GoToMeeting, when will it end?

 

[iPUBdude]

There are 7 people in the meeting in the photo and yet they show 16. Still, Google Meet has worked flawless for me.

 

[ghanwani]

I'm getting app fatigue from all these video apps, and Google itself has several already.

Hangouts, Facetime, Skype, Teams, WebEx, Zoom, Meet, Duo, Facebook, GoToMeeting, when will it end?

Where’s Blue Jeans, WhatsApp, Skype for Business?

 

[DinkThifferent]

So is "Google Meet" the same thing as Google "Chat"? Hangouts? Allo? Duo??

No they are going to rebrand it next week to Google's Allo Duo Hangouts Chat! 😀

 

[MrKennedy]

Every time I use Google Meet teaching my online classes, the quality of it stinks compared to other online videoconferencing. This is from my own experiences.

I've experienced inconsistent quality with Meet and Hangouts, too. Hope they're able to tighten things up!

 

[michaeljk]

The article notes that it is free "until September 30, 2020." So, the title and some of the rest of the article seems to be misleading. This is a "temporary" or "trial" free access.

 

[adrianlondon]

Good. This is what we need - more video apps. Until every family member and company team use a different one and fill my phone and laptop up with apps, I won't be happy.