Easier, Gmail Now Can Make Phone And Video Calls

JAKARTA - Google wants to make Gmail more than just a messaging service, by recently adding the ability to call Google Meet users directly in the Gmail mobile app. This is part of a larger update to Workspace that Google announced.

Quoting The Verge, Thursday, September 9, when the feature is launched and activated, the Gmail app will be able to make phone calls with Google Meet users. Google says its own Meet app will also get the same ability to make calls, not just create group meetings in the future.

Gmail was the first place Google thought of placing its calling feature. Companies recognize how important Gmail is to the major changes taking place within Google Workspace. Google isn't shy about leveraging Gmail's popularity to drive adoption of other services.

With this feature in mind, Gmail is now basically equivalent to Microsoft Outlook. It is a central hub for various services. Outlook is Microsoft's hub for email, calendar, and contacts. Gmail is Google's hub for email, one-on-one chat, group chat, video conferencing, and now calls.

The Workspace changes also include a broader redesign of Gmail, making it another hub of activity. Now users will see Google's promised Space service. This is a renamed and expanded version of the Room chat channel with fully threaded messages.

As such, users can expect easier navigation between email, chat, space, and Meet, not to mention enhanced admin and security features to help manage communications.

Other customizations also include the option to specify whether the user is in the office or WFH on a given day, as well as a Companion mode for Meet which allows users to use conference room audiovisual hardware.

Google is also expanding the Meet hardware ecosystem. There are two new Series One devices (third-party tools built to suit Google's goals), including the Series One Desk 27 all-in-one and the Series One Board 65 4K collaborative board. More gadgets are also Meet certified, such as Logitech's Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini space solutions and the Rayz Rally Pro speaker dock.

It should be noted, all these changes will come gradually later. Google's ambitions for Gmail are pretty clear. Just like Microsoft Outlook, it becomes the gateway for all office communications, not just emails and occasional meetings. No wonder Google competes directly with Office.