Google Meet

File:Google Hangouts Meet icon (2017-2020).png

After being invite-only and quietly releasing an iOS app{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/28/google-quietly-launches-meet-an-enterprise-friendly-version-of-hangouts/|title=Google quietly launches Meet, an enterprise-friendly version of Hangouts|last=Perez|first=Sarah|date=February 28, 2017|website=TechCrunch|publisher=AOL|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302052903/https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/28/google-quietly-launches-meet-an-enterprise-friendly-version-of-hangouts/|archive-date=March 2, 2017|url-status=live}} in February 2017, Google formally launched Meet in March 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.blog.google/products/g-suite/meet-the-new-enterprise-focused-hangouts/|title=Meet the new Hangouts|last=Johnston|first=Scott|date=March 6, 2017|work=Google|access-date=January 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309194557/https://www.blog.google/products/g-suite/meet-the-new-enterprise-focused-hangouts/|archive-date=March 9, 2017|language=en|url-status=live}} The service was unveiled as a video conferencing app for up to 30 participants, described as an enterprise-friendly version of Hangouts. It was available through applications for desktop, Android, and iOS.{{Cite web |last=KNTS |first=Ravi Teja |date=August 29, 2022 |title=How to Use New Google Meet App on Android and iOS |url=https://techwiser.com/how-to-use-new-google-meet-app-on-android-and-ios/ |access-date=November 8, 2022 |website=TechWiser |language=en-US}}

While Google Meet introduced the above features to upgrade the original Hangouts application, some standard Hangouts features were deprecated, including viewing attendees and chat simultaneously. The number of video feeds allowed at one time was also reduced to 8 (while up to 4 feeds can be shown in the "tiles" layout), prioritizing those attendees who most recently used their microphone. Additionally, features such as the chatbox were changed to overlay the video feeds, rather than resizing the latter to fit.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} On November 1, 2022, Hangouts was officially converted and no longer available.{{Cite web |last=Forristal |first=Lauren |date=November 1, 2022 |title=Google puts an end to Google Hangouts once and for all |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/01/google-puts-an-end-to-google-hangouts-once-and-for-all/ |access-date=November 8, 2022 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} Google suspended its usual 60-minute limit for unpaid accounts.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In August 2020, it was reported that Google was planning to eventually merge Google Duo with the business-oriented Google Meet.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Abner |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Sources: Google plans to eventually replace Duo with Meet |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/08/14/sources-google-meet-replaces-duo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815071131/https://9to5google.com/2020/08/14/sources-google-meet-replaces-duo/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |website=9to5Google}} In December 2021, this objective had been dropped, but Duo continued to be available and updated.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Scoop: Google Duo development & planned consumer-focused merger with Meet fizzles out |url=https://9to5google.com/2021/12/16/google-duo-development-fizzles/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216185932/https://9to5google.com/2021/12/16/google-duo-development-fizzles/ |archive-date=December 16, 2021 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |website=9to5Google}}{{Cite web |title=Google Duo |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.tachyon |publisher=Google Play|access-date=May 25, 2022}} App updated May 23, 2022 In June 2022, Google reversed course and announced that Duo would, in fact, be merged into Meet.{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=David |date=June 1, 2022 |title=Google is combining Meet and Duo into a single app for voice and video calls |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/1/23149832/google-meet-duo-combination-voice-video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601163634/https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/1/23149832/google-meet-duo-combination-voice-video |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=The Verge}} The merger began in August, with the Duo mobile app being renamed Meet. The Google Duo web app now also redirects to the Google Meet web app.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Google Duo icon is gone for good on Android, web app gets Meet branding [U] |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/11/03/google-duo-gone-android/ |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=9to5Google |language=en-US}} The original Meet app is intended to be phased out over the next months.{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Google brought back Duo (kind of) because its Meet transition is so confusing |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/26/23323541/google-meet-duo-icon-confusion |access-date=November 29, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

Google Meet is available to Android and iOS devices, as well web application.{{cite web |title=Learn what requirements you need to use Google Meet |url=https://support.google.com/meet/answer/7317473?hl=en&ref_topic=14074236&sjid=1983790004066934165-SA |website=Google Meet Help |publisher=Google Inc.|access-date=July 25, 2024}} Compatibility with Android TV it was launched in 2022, replacing Google Duo app, with the possibility of making calls, but not supported currently to create or join meetings,{{cite web |title=Set up Google Meet Calling on your Android TV |url=https://support.google.com/meet/answer/13420160?hl=en&ref_topic=14074247&sjid=1983790004066934165-SA |website=Google Meet Help |publisher=Google Inc.|access-date=July 25, 2024}} and offered compatibility in Samsung Smart TV in October 18, 2022,{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=October 18, 2022 |title= Google Meet app for Samsung Smart TVs shows up with new UI [Gallery] |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/10/18/google-meet-samsung-tv-listing/ |website=9to5Google}} but was discontinued on March 9, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=February 13, 2024 |title=Google Meet seems to be shutting down Samsung TV app after less than two years |url=https://9to5google.com/2024/02/13/google-meet-samsung-tv-shutdown/ |website=9to5Google}}

Features of Google Meet include:

• Two-way and multi-way audio-video calls
• Video resolution up to 720p or 1080p, depending on the license
• An accompanying chat{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Dave |title=How to use the new 'Companion mode' feature in Google Meet to join meetings with a second screen |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/companion-mode-google-meet |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}
• Call encryption between all users{{Cite web|title=Compare G Suite products - Meet|url=https://gsuite.google.com/compare-editions/?feature=meet|access-date=April 29, 2020|website=gsuite.google.com|language=en}}
• Noise-canceling audio filter (depending on the license){{Cite web |date=2020-06-08 |title=Google Meet noise cancellation is rolling out now — here's how it works |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/google-meet-noise-cancellation-ai-cloud-denoiser-g-suite/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}
• Low-light video filter{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=Google Meet is rolling out low-light mode for web version: Here's what it does |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/google-meet-is-rolling-out-low-light-mode-for-web-version-7523940/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
• Call features: shared whiteboard, reactions, polls, voting, Q&A (depending on the license)
• Google document sharing (documents, spreadsheets, presentations)
• Screen-sharing, browser tab sharing
• Team activities – shared YouTube{{Cite web |last=Livemint |date=October 10, 2022 |title=How to live share a YouTube video in Google Meet |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/how-to-live-share-a-youtube-video-in-google-meet-11665416236298.html |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=mint |language=en}} and Spotify watching, playing mini games like UNO! Mobile, Kahoot! and Heads Up!{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Duo, meet Meet: One upgraded app for video calling and meetings |url=https://blog.google/products/duo/duo-meet/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Google |language=en-us}}
• Integration with Google ecosystem, including Google Calendar and Google Contacts for one-click meeting calls
• A live preview of the caller before the recipient picks up, which Google says is to "make calls feel more like an invitation rather than an interruption".{{cite web |last=Uberti |first=Justin |date=August 16, 2016 |title=Meet Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app for everyone |url=https://blog.google/products/duo/meet-google-duo-simple-1-to-1-video/ |access-date=January 9, 2017 |website=The Keyword Google Blog}}
• Ability to call into meetings using a dial-in number (US numbers always; international numbers when included in Workspace license)
• Hosts being able to deny a user's entry to, remove a user from, and control microphone and video access in a call.
• Video filters, effects, backgrounds and augmented reality masks.{{cite web|last1=Porter |first1=Jon |title=Google Meet adds Duo-style filters, AR masks, and effects |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/8/22568193/google-meet-filters-ar-augmented-reality-masks-effects-duo |date=July 8, 2021 |access-date=July 8, 2021|website=The Verge}}
• Ability to join meetings through a web browser or through Android or iOS apps

Features for users who use Google Workspace accounts include:

• Up to 100 members per call for Google Workspace Starter users, up to 150 for Google Workspace Business users, and up to 250 for Google Workspace Enterprise users.{{cite web |title=Compare Meet with classic Hangouts - G Suite Admin Help |url=https://support.google.com/a/answer/7303775?hl=en |website=support.google.com |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311123117/https://support.google.com/a/answer/7303775?hl=en |archive-date=March 11, 2020}}{{cite web|last1=Lardinois|first1=Frederic|title=Google Meet launches improved Zoom-like tiled layout, low-light mode and more|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/google-meet-launches-improved-zoom-like-tiled-layout-low-light-mode-and-noise-cancellation/|access-date=May 5, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=April 22, 2020 }}{{Cite web|last=Schroeder|first=Stan|title=Google Meet takes on Zoom by going completely free for everyone|url=https://mashable.com/article/google-meet-goes-free/|website=Mashable|date=April 29, 2020 }}
• Ability to call into meetings with a dial-in number from selected countries.
• Ability to record the meeting.{{cite web | title=Record a video meeting | website=Google Meet Help | url=https://support.google.com/meet/answer/9308681?hl=en | access-date=December 19, 2022}}
• Password-protected dial-in numbers for Google Workspace Enterprise edition users.
• Real-time closed captioning based on speech recognition.
• Background blurring and virtual backgrounds.
• Real-time translations of the automatically generated closed captions{{Cite web |title=Live translated captions in Google Meet are now generally available |url=http://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/01/live-translated-captions-in-google-meet-generally-available.html |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=Google Workspace Updates |language=en}}

In March 2020, Google temporarily extended advanced features present in the enterprise edition to anyone using Google Workspace or G Suite for Education{{Cite web |url=https://edu.google.com/products/gsuite-for-education/?modal_active=none |title=G Suite for Education |access-date=October 16, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020104333/https://edu.google.com/products/gsuite-for-education/?modal_active=none |url-status=dead }} editions. In January 2022, these features were removed for educators and workspace users unless they subscribed.{{Cite news |last=Grant |first=Nico |date=June 20, 2022 |title=Google Says It's Time for Longtime Small-Business Users to Pay Up |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/technology/google-gsuite-small-business-fee.html |access-date=November 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}

In March 2020, Google rolled out Meet to personal (free) Google accounts.{{Cite web|url=https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/g-suite/helping-businesses-and-schools-stay-connected-in-response-to-coronavirus/|title=Free video conferencing tools|website=Google Cloud Blog}}

Free Meet calls can only have a single host and up to 100 participants, compared to the 250-caller limit for Google Workspace users{{cite news |last1=Dave |first1=Paresh |title=Google makes Meet video conferencing free to all users, challenging Zoom |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-google-conferencing/google-makes-meet-video-conferencing-free-to-all-users-challenging-zoom-idUSKBN22B1AX |website=Reuters |date=April 29, 2020 |agency=Reuters |access-date=May 5, 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/04/29/google-launches-free-version-meet-video-calling-app-bid-topple/|title=Google launches free version of Meet in bid to topple Zoom|first=Hannah|last=Boland|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=April 29, 2020|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} and the 25-participant limit for Hangouts.{{cite web |last1=Schroeder |first1=Stan |title=Google Meet takes on Zoom by going completely free for everyone |url=https://mashable.com/article/google-meet-goes-free/ |website=Mashable |date=April 29, 2020 |publisher=Mashable, Inc. |access-date=May 5, 2020}} Unlike business calls with Meet, consumer calls are not recorded and stored, and Google states that consumer data from Meet will not be used for advertisement targeting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-google-conferencing-idUSKBN22B1AX|title=Google makes Meet video conferencing free to all users, challenging Zoom|newspaper=Reuters |date=April 30, 2020|via=www.reuters.com}} While call data is reportedly not being used for advertising purposes, based on an analysis of Meet's privacy policy, Google reserves the right to collect data on call duration, who is participating, and participants' IP addresses.{{cite web |last1=Gartenberg |first1=Chaim |title=Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx are collecting more customer data than they appear to be |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/1/21244058/google-meet-microsoft-teams-webex-personal-data-collection-privacy-policy-concerns |website=The Verge |date=May 2020 |publisher=VoxMedia |access-date=May 5, 2020}}

Users need a Google account to initiate calls{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/29/google-is-making-meet-free-for-everyone/|title=Google is making Meet free for everyone|date=April 29, 2020|access-date=June 9, 2020|archive-date=May 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501162816/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/04/29/google-is-making-meet-free-for-everyone/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=April 29, 2020|title=Google Meet premium video conferencing—free for everyone|url=https://blog.google/products/meet/bringing-google-meet-to-more-people|access-date=April 29, 2020}} and like Google Workspace users, anyone with a Google account is able to start a Meet call from within Gmail.{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=Google will add Zoom-like gallery view to Meet and will let Meet users take calls from Gmail |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/16/21223778/google-meet-gallery-view-calls-gmail-javier-soltero |website=The Verge |date=April 16, 2020 |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=May 5, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Finnegan |first1=Matthew |title=Google's Meet video app gets Gmail integration |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3538916/googles-meet-video-app-gets-gmail-integration.html |website=Computer World |date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=IDG |access-date=May 5, 2020}}

In accordance with the WebRTC standard, Google Meet uses VP8 and VP9 video codecs for video stream compression{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Gustavo |last6=Apps |date=June 5, 2022 |title=New look at WebRTC usage in Google Meet |url=http://www.rtcbits.com/2022/06/webrtc-google-meet.html |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=Real Time Communications Bits |language=en}} and Opus audio codec for voice stream compression.{{Cite web |title=Codecs used by WebRTC – Web media technologies {{!}} MDN |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Formats/WebRTC_codecs |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=developer.mozilla.org |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2022 |title=Meet vs. Duo – 2 faces of Google's WebRTC |url=https://webrtchacks.com/meet-vs-duo-2-faces-of-googles-webrtc/ |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=webrtcHacks |language=en-US}} In April 2020, Google announced plans to support the AV1 video codec.{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Four new Google Duo features to help you stay connected |url=https://blog.google/products/duo/4-new-google-duo-features-help-you-stay-connected/ |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=Google |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Google Duo seeing 8x surge in group calls, adding built-in screenshots and AV1 codec support |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/04/21/google-duo-new-features/ |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=9to5Google |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Mishaal |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Google Duo adds AV1 support to improve video calls, Moment screenshot captures, and saving messages |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/google-duo-av1-moment-screenshots-saving-messages/ |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=XDA Developers |language=en-US}} In February 2021, Google announced a new very low-bitrate codec for speech compression called "Lyra", that can operate with network speeds as low as 3 kbit/s that avoids robotic voice audio. Google trained machine learning models on thousands of hours of data in order to create the method used by Lyra on compression and transmittion of voice signals.{{Cite web |title=Lyra: A New Very Low-Bitrate Codec for Speech Compression |url=http://ai.googleblog.com/2021/02/lyra-new-very-low-bitrate-codec-for.html |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=Google AI Blog |date=February 25, 2021 |language=en}}

Google Meet uses proprietary protocols for audio and video stream control. Interoperability between Google Meet and SIP/H.323-based conferencing equipment and software is available for Google Workspace customers through third-party services.{{cite web |date=June 18, 2018 |title=Google Hangouts to Anything Video Conferencing Blog |url=http://www.videocentric.co.uk/now-google-hangouts-video-conferencing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905174056/http://www.videocentric.co.uk/now-google-hangouts-video-conferencing/ |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=VideoCentric}}

Google Meet is optimized for low-bandwidth mobile networks through WebRTC and uses QUIC over UDP. Optimization is further achieved through the degradation of video quality through monitoring network quality.{{cite web |last=Bohn |first=Dieter |date=May 18, 2016 |title=Google Duo makes mobile video calls fast and simple |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/18/11690728/google-duo-video-call-app-vs-apple-facetime-io-2016 |access-date=October 21, 2016 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media}} For packet loss concealment Meet uses WaveNetEQ.{{Cite web |title=Improving Audio Quality in Duo with WaveNetEQ |url=http://ai.googleblog.com/2020/04/improving-audio-quality-in-duo-with.html |access-date=April 1, 2020 |website=Google AI Blog |date=April 2020 |language=en}}

In May 2020, Asus unveiled videoconferencing hardware designed for use with Google Meet in conference room settings, which includes a "Meet Compute System" mini PC, and a dedicated camera and microphone.{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Jay|date=May 18, 2020|title=Asus reveals new Google Meet videoconferencing hardware for offices|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/18/21262996/asus-google-meet-videoconferencing-hardware-offices-compute-system|access-date=September 15, 2020|website=The Verge|language=en}}

On September 15, 2020, Google unveiled Meet Series One, in partnership with Lenovo, which includes a Meet Compute System with Edge TPU, "Smart Camera", "Smart Audio Bar" with noise reduction, and a choice of remote control or touchscreen that supports the Google Assistant.{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Jay|date=September 15, 2020|title=Google announces its own Meet hardware bundle, but it's only for conference rooms|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/15/21437114/google-meet-series-one-videoconferencing-hardware-conference-rooms-lenovo|access-date=September 15, 2020|website=The Verge|language=en}}

• Microsoft Teams

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