Google recognizes people's need to feel connected, especially during the current health crisis. The company announced on its blog that its video conferencing service Google Meet is becoming available for Google account holders, rollout starting in early May. "Today, we're making Google Meet, our premium video conferencing product, free for everyone, with availability rolling out over the coming weeks," writes Google.
Earlier this month, the company rebranded Hangouts to Google Meet and made it free for G Suit users until the end of 2020. With its competitor Zoom in trouble, Google might use the opportunity to increase Meet's popularity among people, while at the same time serving the noble cause of keeping them connected during the COVID-19 calamity.
Google Meet requires a Google account, and group video calls are limited to 60-minute intervals, but the company won't enforce this time limit until the end of September. Premium features like dial-in phone numbers, larger meetings, and meeting recordings will be available for free as well.
Google reports a 30x growth in Meet daily usage since January, and with the service now becoming available to a broader audience, numbers may turn out even more impressive in the following months. If you're not able to create meetings at meet.google.com yet, you can sign up and get notified when the service is available in your location.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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