Google Chat has launched a huddles feature, which enables coworkers to have impromptu audio calls with one another.

The communication and collaboration service’s latest tool shares the same name as and similar capabilities Slack’s “huddles”.

Like Slack, Google’s huddles will automatically launch as audio calls, but users can opt to turn video on at any time.

The option to use video on Slack huddles was added in 2022, along with multi-person screen sharing and drawing, emojis, reactions, stickers, and more.

The news was introduced through a Google Workspace update:

In continuing our effort to make Google Chat your home for team collaboration, we’re excited to introduce a fast and flexible way to connect: huddles.”

“Powered by Google Meet, huddles let you start an audio-first meeting, making real-time collaboration easier than ever. Once the huddle has started, you can resize or drag the window, add video, or share your screen for a fuller meeting experience while multitasking in Chat.”

“Huddles provide a seamless collaboration experience across Chat and Meet, and can be useful in a variety of scenarios, such as two colleagues syncing quickly to discuss a project they’ve been messaging about in their Chat stream.”

Google Huddles

To begin a huddle from a user’s perspective, click on the Video icon at the top right-hand corner of a chat message and select “Start a huddle”.

When you are requested to join a huddle, a chat chip will appear in your message thread stating who is requesting to start a huddle. Simply click “Join” to begin the huddle.

The huddles toggle in the Chat header will also be visible for that conversation.

Another detail to be aware of is that the Meet video button that is currently located in the compose bar of Chat will be moved to the Chat header, providing multiple options like calling, starting a huddle, and sharing Meet links via a single entry point.

From an admin’s viewpoint, users will not be able to create Huddles if Meet is switched off, but they will be able to join Huddles.

Rollout and Availability

The pace of the rollout varies. For rapid-release domains, there is an extended rollout starting on November 27, with the expected completion by December 20th.

Scheduled release domain will experience a gradual rollout of the capability beginning on January 6.

Huddles will be made available for Google Workspace Business Starter, Standard, and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus; Frontline Starter and Standard; Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus; and Non-profits.

Google Workspace’s announcement goes on to outline some of the potential benefits of huddles for users:

Huddles help to reduce meeting fatigue for hybrid workers, and eliminates the need for lengthy discussions over email or in Chat.”

“Instead of jumping out of the conversation and into a meeting, huddles integrates directly and smoothly into the Chat experience.”

“The format of huddles also supports multi-tasking while in Chat as you can easily resize or share your screen.”

Google first announced the huddle feature last year, along with a raft of other updates to Google Chat. It also revealed that it would make huddles available in customer preview by the end of the same year.



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