Google will be transitioning consumers to a new version of Hangouts

Google has denied reports that it intends to shut down Hangouts for consumers. Instead, the firm will be launching Google Hangouts Chat and Meet for consumers to replace Classic Hangouts. The firm has already made the apps available for users of its Gsuite enterprise products, and while it was previously anticipated that Allo and Duo would be the replacements for Hangouts, it seems the brand lives to fight another day.

A Google spokesperson sent MSPoweruser the following statement:

In March 2017, we announced plans to evolve classic Hangouts to focus on two experiences that help bring teams together: Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet. Both Chat and Meet are available today for G Suite customers and will be made available for consumer users, too. We have not announced an official timeline for transitioning users from classic Hangouts to Chat and Meet. We are fully committed to supporting classic Hangouts users until everyone is successfully migrated to Chat and Meet.”

Original story follows below:

Google two years ago replaced its Hangouts app with Allo and Duo for consumers, while pushing the Hangouts brand as the enterprise solution with Hangouts Chat and Meet for chat and video conferencing scenarios respectively. While the original google Hangouts Web and Android apps remained functional, they received few updates besides big fices, and it was only a matter of time till the firm killed it off for real.

According to a source familiar with Hangouts’ roadmap (courtesy of 9To5Google), the service will be shutting down for good in 2020. Google will likely be winding down the app over the coming year, giving users a chance to migrate, before closing it down.

As mentioned, Google already offers replacement apps for this. Google Allo — now supplanted by Chat in Android Messages and Google Duo handle consumer scenarios, while GSuite consumers can make use of Google Hangouts Chat and Meet.

The old Hangouts service was just a relic waiting to be killed, and now the multicoloured grim reaper has drawn its scythe.