After retiring Duo, Google’s Meet app has become the company’s prominent video calling app for both desktop and mobile devices. In a recent update, Google Meet users now have an improved feature for making 1:1 video calls.
Previously, enterprise Workspace customers had to create a meeting link before initiating cloud-encrypted one-on-one video calls through the mobile app. This link could then be shared via a calendar invite, chat message, or email. However, with the latest update, the need to create a link for 1:1 video calls has been completely eliminated. Workspace customers can now directly call their colleagues on the mobile app, just like personal users.
Apart from simplifying the process of making 1:1 video calls, Google has also introduced additional features within the call itself, including in-meeting chat, virtual backgrounds, visual effects, live closed captions, and more. The availability of these features may vary depending on the edition of Workspace being used.
It is worth noting that the new feature is enabled by default and can only be disabled by turning off Meet meetings and calls for your organization. Google has also committed to adding admin controls to restrict inbound calls in the coming year.
Regarding availability, iOS users of Workspace in the Rapid and Scheduled Release domains can expect to see the new feature within the next two weeks. However, Android users will have to wait until November 14 before the rollout begins, and it will take approximately two weeks for it to reach all users.