what you need to know
- Google plans to add support for broadcast messages, a move that will make Google Chat more like rivals Slack and WhatsApp.
- The new feature, called Announcements, may allow users to choose who can send messages in large groups.
- It appears to be similar to Channels on WhatsApp and could make Google Chat a more viable option for workplace communication.
Broadcast messages are becoming an increasingly popular way to connect with large numbers of users without groups going crazy. Social media features like X (formerly Twitter) Spaces and WhatsApp Channels limit who can speak or chat while allowing specific users to communicate with large audiences. Google Chat seems to have noticed these successful features and is preparing one of its own. It’s called an “announcement” and it will make it possible to broadcast messages on the platform.
Long term Android parser Assembly debugging on X Here’s our first look at the announcements feature in Google Chat (via Android Police ). We don’t know yet how the announcement will work, but we have a good idea. Currently, there is only one type of Google Chat space, and it allows collaborative groups. With this new feature, Google Chat users will be able to choose whether their space is used for collaboration or announcements.
Collaboration spaces allow Google Chat users to “collaborate on projects, initiatives, or topics” [and] Easily share files, assign tasks, and organize conversations by topic. In contrast, the new announcement space will enable Google Chat users to “broadcast and share updates in groups.”
Google Chat is working on a new “Announcements” feature that will allow you to “broadcast and share updates with groups.” There isn’t much information about it yet. #GappsLeaks #Android pic.twitter.com/gW8leE24kqMarch 29, 2024
The new announcements feature will almost certainly limit who can post in Google Chat spaces. What’s unclear is whether multiple people can post announcements in the Announcement space, or if it’s limited to the creator. Assuming Google wants to make Google Chat a replacement for the current broadcast messaging platform, it needs this level of management.
Google may be trying to defeat some apps and services with the announcements feature in Google Chat. Consumer apps like WhatsApp, Discord, and Telegram all have similar functionality to Google Chat spaces. Additionally, there are workplace-level applications such as Slack and Microsoft Teams. Considering the vast number of business-oriented applications Google has in Google Workspace, it’s no surprise that the company wants to bring everything under one roof.
We’ll have to wait and see, though, what exactly the Google Chat announcements will look like when they debut, and whether people will be willing to use them.