Last month in Google Hangouts, we announced that
better group chat controls were now available on Android, iOS, and the web in order to make it a simpler and more consistent experience joining group chats with your team. In following this move towards consistency, on August 31, 2016, a new version of the Google Hangouts
Chrome extension will be made available to new users. As we continue to iterate and add in features that help users communicate in group chats, the new experience brings together multiple chat windows into one and makes it easier to see more chat content.
Existing users of the Chrome extension will be able to opt into the new experience on August 31, 2016, which has functional parity with the current experience. Users will have the option to remain on the current experience until October 17, 2016, at which point all users will be automatically updated to the new experience.
In order to make this a smooth transition, we’re updating the Google Hangouts Help Center articles with the latest changes,
nested in the Hangouts Chrome desktop app section.
Action Suggested- If you have people using the existing Google Hangouts Chrome extension in your organization, share the Help Center articles above to prepare them for this change.
- If you use Chrome Management (available to all Google Apps customers) to centrally manage installation of the extension, please see our Help Center article for more information.
As a reminder, the new Google Hangouts Chrome extension will become the default experience on October 17, 2016.
Launch DetailsRelease track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release on
August 31, 2016 as the default for new users, and opt-in for existing users. The new extension will become the default for all users on
October 17, 2016.
Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)
Impact: All Hangouts Chrome extension end users
Action: Change management suggested/FYI
More InformationChrome Web StoreHelp Center: Hangouts Chrome desktop appAdministrators only:
Set Chrome policies for users
