Google is trying to imitate WhatsApp again
This time Google provides capabilities to its Hangouts successor ‘Google Chat’ that come instantly from WhatsApp.
Google has had the ambition for years to compete with providers akin to WhatsApp and Telegram. The search big has launched numerous apps through the years to make this attainable. Hangouts is one such chat service; an app that shut down in 2022 and succeeded by Google’s Chat. Like Hangouts, that app is primarily geared toward enterprise chat site visitors. At the very least: that was the case.
Google has a sequence of recent options to Chat on Friday added to make it extra appropriate for conversations with family and friends. In brief, the search big is attempting to compete with WhatsApp once more.
For instance, Chat now allows you to edit and delete messages. You too can ship a quote message to any extent further and see precisely who has learn a message in group conversations. For inactive conversations, Google added the choice to cover them. Sensible Compose – a function that helps you compose a message – is now additionally obtainable in Chat, as is the flexibility so as to add apps. These embody Asana (job app) and Zapier (customized notifications).
Enterprise, or not?
Google’s weblog article raises the query of which phase the search big needs to serve with Chat. On the launch, it was emphasised that the chat service is meant for communication inside groups. Now that focus appears to be slowly disappearing, and Chat should due to this fact additionally deal with ‘family and friends’.
In spite of everything, Google needs family and friends to “talk about trip plans” and “share humorous movies” by means of Chat. A placing place, because the firm beforehand tried to influence everybody to modify to RCS (Wealthy Communications Providers). For this, it even went into battle with Apple, which isn’t prepared so as to add the communication customary to its Messages app.
Not the primary WhatsApp journey
It’s actually not the primary time that the search big goes in all instructions with messaging apps. In 2016, for instance, it launched each Allo (messaging app) and Duo (video service). Each purposes have since gone down. Allo disappeared totally whereas Duo went up in Google’s Meet service. Beforehand, the identical factor occurred with Hangouts; a chat and dialog service that turned obtainable to each shoppers and enterprise customers.
