Saturday, 19 July 2025
27.5 C
Singapore
29.7 C
Thailand
16 C
Indonesia
28.3 C
Philippines

Google plans to make Meet free for everyone

Zoom has become very popular amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to security concerns, lots of people have been looking for alternatives. Google recently announced that they are making Meet, a video meeting tool available for free to everyone. Before this announcement, one could use Meet, but a paid G Suite account was a must-have […]

Zoom has become very popular amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to security concerns, lots of people have been looking for alternatives. Google recently announced that they are making Meet, a video meeting tool available for free to everyone. Before this announcement, one could use Meet, but a paid G Suite account was a must-have to start calls. 

Google announced that this platform would be available for free gradually, so don’t expect it to be free for you straight away. It may take several weeks before it is accessible to everyone.

With Meet, you can hold long meetings, but after September, the meetings will not be running for more than one hour. The other limit on Meet is a meeting cannot have more than 100 participants.

To participate in a meeting on the platform, you will need a Google account, which is not a problem for most people, since the highest percentage of people use Google accounts. In return, you get a more secure platform, according to Google.

“With COVID, video conferencing is really becoming an essential service, and we have seen video conferencing usage really go up,” the Director of Product Management at Google Cloud, Smita Hashim, told TechCrunch. 

“We are accelerating what we are doing, given the crisis, and given the need for video conferencing at this point,” she added. “We will still have Google Hangouts product, but Google Meet availability we are accelerating. This is a newer product designed to scale to many more participants, and that has features like closed captioning and those kinds of things.” 

That being said, Google Duo and Hangouts aren’t going anywhere in the meantime. However, this move might encourage the depreciation of consumer Hangouts.

It’s clear that Google saw the increased need for video conferencing tools, and with Zoom and Microsoft plans for the consumer edition of Teams, Google had to introduce Meet for free to capitalize on this breakout need for video conferencing tools fully. 

“From a leadership perspective, the message was really: how can Google be more and more helpful,” Hashim answered when she was asked about what the discussion for the move was like.

Additionally, Google will also launch a new edition of G Suite, which will be known as G Suite Essentials. This edition is meant for small teams, and it will include access to Google Drive, Sheets, Slides, Docs, and Meet. It will be available for free up to September 30, 2020, after which Google will start charging for its use.

Enterprise users have not been left behind as Google has also added some perks available till September 30, including free access to advanced Meet features for G Suite customers, which includes the ability to stream up to one hundred thousand viewers within their domains and additional Meet licenses that will not require the need for an amendment contract.

Google shared some stats around Meet, which include, as of last week, the daily participants on the platform surpassed 100 million, and Meet now plays host to three billion minutes of video meetings. The peak daily usage on Meeting has tripled since January this year, Google also noted.

Hot this week

iPhone 17 Pro dummy unit gives you a closer look at key design changes

A new iPhone 17 Pro dummy unit reveals a redesigned camera bar, a repositioned Apple logo, and hints at a new Sky Blue finish ahead of the September launch.

Juniper Networks: Southeast Asia accelerates shift towards AI-native self-driving networks

AI-native networking is helping Southeast Asian enterprises move from reactive IT to proactive innovation, improving scale, efficiency, and service.

Garmin introduces Descent S1 buoy to enhance dive communication and safety

Garmin launches the Descent S1 Buoy in Singapore to improve diver tracking, messaging and safety through advanced sonar technology.

Vivo joins the foldable race with new X Fold5 featuring ZEISS cameras and a huge battery

The Vivo X Fold5 offers foldable power with ZEISS cameras, a 6,000mAh battery, and multitasking software, all in a slim and lightweight design.

iPhone 17 Pro may feature a new scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display

iPhone 17 Pro may debut with an anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display, joining Apple’s premium iPad and Mac screens.

SoftBank plans a billion AI agents to boost workers like ‘thousand-armed deities’

SoftBank aims to launch a billion self-replicating AI agents by year-end to boost productivity, but concerns about job displacement remain.

City Energy makes EV charging app-free in Singapore and Malaysia

AutoCharge by City Energy allows you to charge your EV in Singapore and Malaysia without needing an app – plug in and start.

Tecno unveils Phantom Ultimate G Fold – a tri-fold Android phone like no other

Tecno unveils the Phantom Ultimate G Fold, a tri-fold concept Android phone set to debut at MWC 2026, featuring a slim design and full display.

iPhone 17 Pro may feature a new scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display

iPhone 17 Pro may debut with an anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display, joining Apple’s premium iPad and Mac screens.

Related Articles

Popular Categories