During the coronavirus pandemic, Google is making further moves into the video chat room, now offering consumers its premium video conferencing service Google Meet free of charge. Meet is now open to everyone, previously available only to companies using G Suite, in a move that puts Google in competition with rival video chat service Zoom.
While for casual video chatting, Google Hangouts and Duo were previously available, Meet allows up to 100 participants to call at once, and includes features such as scheduling, screen sharing and captioning in real time.
The free edition of Google Meet includes that you create a free account with Google. There will be a 60-minute limit on video calls, but Google said it will not impose the restriction until after Sept. 30.
With Meet, Google also set out a range of default privacy safeguards, including host controls (such as the ability to admit or reject access to a meeting and mute or delete participants), complicated meeting codes and transit encryption. This appears to be directed at Zoom, which saw a huge rise in users since the start of the coronavirus lockdowns and quarantines—but has recently faced a range of security problems, including ‘Zoombombing’ meetings for uninvited guests.
Facebook, Skype and Microsoft have all recently launched new free community video chat features and services, and Google is far from the only tech company trying to snatch up some of Zoom ‘s market.
Earlier this month, Meet began rolling out its free version. You will be able to use the online video chat service at meet.google.com and on iOS or Android smartphone apps.
How to use Google Meet, free
Go to the Google Meet page to sign up for the free Google Meet edition. For Google Meet (personal, business , education or government), enter your name, email, country and primary use. Agree to the Terms of Service of Google, and click Send.
After you sign up, here’s how to use Google Meet’s free version:
- Go to meet.google.com (or, on iOS or Android, open the app or launch a Google Calendar meeting).
- Select New Meeting Start or type in your meeting code.
- Pick the account that you want to use in Google.
- Please click Link. You will also be allowed to invite others to your meeting. And this is it! And this is it! Happy chatting video.
See how to make video meetings less odd, how to use Zoom as a pro, how to look and sound online with your camera and how to transform your phone into a camera for more details on your video conversations.
