Google is the new Slack: Launches workplace communication tool
Google has globally launched Hangouts Chat, a workplace communication tool, as a core part of its G Suite offerings. Hangouts Chat was first announced at Google Cloud Next 2017 where it was offered as an invite-only preview option. The tool, available on iOS, Android, and the web, will roll out over the course of the next seven days.
Hangouts Chat supports 28 languages
Employees can send instant messages to each other on Hangouts Chat across devices, and also have group conversations. They can integrate widgets from other corporate software to access a variety of data on the platform. It supports 28 languages and can accommodate up to 8,000 members.
Google betting on machine learning, artificial intelligence for Hangouts Chat
Google has laid a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) while building the platform. Workers can use the @Meet bot to schedule meetings and the @Drive bot to keep a record of their document activity. Hangouts Chat is also deeply integrated with Google's own products like Hangouts Meet to hold video conferences and built-in file uploads to Drive and Docs.
Developers can integrate their own bots with Hangouts Chat
Interestingly, developers can build and integrate their own bots with Hangouts Chat. Google has already built an ecosystem of partners that are integrating their own bots with the platform to provide additional services. These include UberConference, Salesforce, Zoom.ai, and even Giphy.
Hangouts Chat will compete with Slack, Microsoft Teams
Being a part of G Suite, Hangouts Chat will come as a complementary tool for companies already subscribed to Google's services. Other elements in the workplace software package of G Suite include e-mail and word-processing tools for which over 4 million businesses pay at least $25 per user each month. Hangouts Chat will compete with popular workplace communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
