Google has announced exciting new updates for its messaging platform, Google Chat, which is primarily accessible to all users through Gmail. These enhancements, including the introduction of video messaging, aim to improve user communication, making it more efficient and time-saving. Additionally, the company is building upon the voice messaging feature introduced earlier this year by incorporating advanced capabilities into it.
In a recent Workspace blog post, Google announced the launch of video messaging capabilities in Google Chat, showcasing various practical applications. According to the company, customer support and sales teams can utilize this feature to share video updates regarding new features or account modifications. Additionally, it serves as an effective way to communicate company-wide announcements or act as a substitute for live meetings that some members may have missed.
Similar to standard chat messages, this feature can be utilized in direct messages (DMs), group DMs, and spaces, allowing users to interact by quoting, replying, or reacting. All sent and received video messages will be conveniently stored in the Media section of the Shared tab.
Despite its benefits, the video messaging feature in Google Chat comes with some limitations, particularly regarding its availability. According to Google, users cannot access video messaging in Google Chat on ChromeOS, Linux, or Firefox. Although users can receive video messages across all platforms, sending them is currently limited to the web version of Google Chat. Additionally, this feature is not yet available on mobile devices.
In a follow-up blog post, Google announced the launch of transcription capabilities for voice messages in Google Chat. With this new feature, users will be able to see the automatic transcriptions of voice messages on both web and mobile platforms. To view a transcript, simply tap the new “View transcript” option located below the voice message. Users also have the option to hide the transcripts if they prefer.
Google states that voice message transcripts are formatted as readable text for screen readers and will comply with the language settings of the device being used.
