A Google update was recently announced that will drastically alter how Gmail users communicate with one another in the future. Users will be able to use the Gmail app to improve their communication. Gmail, which has over 1.5 billion users, will soon add the ability to call, chat, and join group discussions with other users on their mobile phones. All of this can be accomplished without ever leaving Gmail.
This means that once the Gmail update is applied to your account, you will no longer need to switch to another tab, app, or service to complete any of the tasks listed above. Google Workspace has been updated to include Google Chat in users' Gmail inboxes, as well as Google Meet and a new tab for Spaces. While Google Meet and Google Chat are well-known, Google Spaces is a group discussion service similar to Slack that allows for threaded discussions.
However, one of the most appealing features of this new Gmail update is the ability to call (or start a meeting) right from your inbox. Instead of searching through your contacts for a phone number or opening another app, you can call a Google user directly using their email address without leaving the website or mobile app. This means that users who simply want to send a message to a contact via chat rather than a more formal email can do so by going to Gmail's Chat tab and typing a message to them. These messages will also sync to other devices, such as their phones, which are also equipped with the Gmail app.
While popular services like WhatsApp are still working on adding true multi-device support, the Google Workspace update will allow Gmail users to receive calls on their computers as well as their phones. "You'll soon be able to call team members directly from a one-to-one chat. This will ring their Gmail mobile device and send a call chip to a chat on their laptop, allowing them to respond from any device "Sanaz Ahari, Gmail's Senior Director of Product Management, explains.