Google has confirmed plans to makes its Zoom competitor free from next month.
The company’s Meet service will make videoconference available for everyone who has a Google account.
The service was previously only available to those who had a premium G Suite subscription.
Google Meet its Google’s answer to Skype and Zoom, which has exploded in popularity in recent weeks as businesses make the transition to working from home, and have their staff meetings conducted via video call.
However, some have criticized the service for its privacy stance, with some groups concerned that Zoom doesn’t do enough to protect its users.
By opening up Google Meet to everyone until the end of September, Google is hoping that it can cash-in on the videoconferencing boom and encourage users to make the switch over to G Suite, rather than popular alternatives such as Microsoft 365.
Speaking of the news, a spokesperson for Google said: “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.”
Previously, Google Meet stuck a 60-minute limit on meetings for free users, but this has been limited during the COVID-19 crisis to allow consumers to spend more time chatting.
Users who want to take advantage of Google’s free offering should download the Hangouts Meet app on the macOS App Store or visit meet.google.com to access the service online.
Will you be making the switch to Google Meet? Let us know and check back soon for more.