You may not be able to use Google Hangouts soon
What's the story
If reports are to be believed, Google is planning to shut down its Hangouts service for consumers in 2020.
In the five years since its launch in 2013, Hangouts has failed to become a standout product, and had also seen an identity crisis of late wherein it had been losing features.
While not much is known now, here's what we do know.
Details
Sources have reportedly confirmed Hangouts' impending death
As reported by 9to5Google, a source familiar with Hangout's internal roadmap has confirmed that the app is likely to be shut down for consumers in 2020.
Given the fact that development on the app stopped nearly a year ago, it is perhaps not surprising that Google is deciding to pull the plug on the legacy chat app.
Additionally, many users have also started drifting from the app.
New focus
Hangouts' new focus seems to be on enterprise use
While Google appears to be gearing up to pull the plug on Hangouts for consumers, the Hangouts brand is being shaped to be one fine-tuned for enterprise users.
The tech giant has already presented features like G Suite's Hangouts Chat, which is meant to be a workplace messaging platform like Slack, and video conferencing platform Hangouts Meet as business-facing features of the Hangouts brand.
Usage
Yet, there are many who still use Hangouts
That said, there are many users who still use Hangouts to chat with others from the desktop version of Gmail, and many others use it to communicate with their kids and others who do not have cellphones.
With news about Hangouts' demise all but confirmed, 2019 will be the last year for regular users to use the legacy chat app.
Hangouts
Hangouts had been fading from importance
Launched in May 2013, Google Hangouts was designed to be a user-facing out-and-out chat app with messaging, video chat, SMS, and VOIP features.
However, over the years, Google launched chat app Google Allo, and video calling app Google Duo as alternatives to Hangouts, but neither succeeded in taking off.
With Google's efforts at consumer chat apps failing, the tech giant is turning its attention towards business-oriented services.