Re: 1:1 Voice Calls Amongst Google Chat users

Ka-Admin · 06-08-2022 06:18 PM

Our team previously used MS Teams & Slack and Google Meeting

We wanted to move our entire team to Google Chat/Google Meet to replace Slack/Teams:

There is no way to initiate 1:1 voice calls between two users in a manner similar to Teams/Slack. The user's are used to a ringing (Audible) notice that someone wants to talk to them.

The workaround: Sending a Google Meet link and then having the other person join the meeting is not working.

icrew

You might want to post this to the Feature Ideas section here. See https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Feature-Ideas/gh-p/workspace-ideas-group, and https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/custom/page/page-id/Workspace-Feature-Ideas-FAQ for how to get access. This will allow it to be upvoted by others and possibly considered as a future feature enhancement.

If you are submitting a feature idea, be sure to explain the problem that you're trying to solve with the feature idea, not just the idea itself. For example, saying "when my users are trying to do 'A', they often get confused by the fact that the buttons to do 'X' and to do 'Y' look quite similar to each other, which leads to this unintended consequence" is far more likely to get fixed than a feature idea that just says "change the color of the button 'Y'".

Cheers,

Ian

JasonTM1

Completely agree. I understand that Meet is a conferencing tool as opposed to a calling tool, it's closer to Zoom than FaceTime. But it is frustrating to see someone online in Chat and not have the ability to simply call them. I would never setup a conference call and text someone a dial-in phone number+pin, I would just call them directly. I would love for Meet to work the same way.

Hopefully the merging of Duo and Meet will bring this capability to Workspace users. I cannot see the feature going away for consumers once Duo is retired.

JasonTM1

To follow up on my Zoom comment, you can initiate a meeting(call) with someone right from the chat/contacts page in Zoom. So the feature exists there too but I have not used it since we prefer Meet.

bill_pier3

On the web/desktop, integration with Google Voice seems to be available for Chat, but as I don't subscribe to that service I cannot verify. Additionally I noticed that RingCentral has call integration with Google Chat.

On mobile, Chat under the Gmail app has call capability with an icon at the top of a DM Chat. Unfathomably, this feature is not available on the Chat mobile app itself, (I've sent feedback incredulously asking why it's not the same as Chat under the Gmail app).

ref: Workspace updates: Start and join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats using Google Chat in Gmail...

intrasys

We are using Slack and we are searching for an alternative. But not having phone functions (without third apps) would be an unacceptable downgrade for my company. Sometimes you need to reach someone quick all over the world. A "ringing" option without third account somewhere else is state of the art.

StephenHind

@intrasys this is already in the works as Meet one-to-one dialing and was released to Mobile nearly a year ago - see:

Google Workspace Updates: Start and join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats using Google Chat ...

We're just waiting for it to arrive on desktop (probably delayed by the merging of Duo and Meet) so keep your eye on https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/

intrasys

I am in Germany and there is nothing in the website to use. I need to pay additional 10USD per User for Google Voice. But that is combined with a real phone number and more like a real phone alternative where I can call real numbers and send SMS. I just asked Google support and they told me it is not possible. Thats all I know.

I assume this will take very long to reach Germany. In Slack or Teams I can call someone 1:1 or 1:2 or I can add someone during a call. All included perfectly. All with ringing.

This will take Google forever to get there (if they will get there)

StephenHind

This has nothing to do with Google Voice and it will be a general release to all once Google releases it - it won't be country dependent it will just be a standard feature in Google Chat on the web.

You can see it in the Mobile app already.

intrasys

I see. Hmm. I am still sceptical it will be a multi tool like in Slack or Teams where you can easily switch to multi user, video, screensharing and all starting with a ring. But thank you, I will keep an eye on it.

Unfortunatelly I have to delete my membership as I don't expect it in the next (free) 14 days period.

StephenHind

I'm unsure why you are so skeptical about the features:

You can simply try it from your mobile and you'll see what happens
If you do try it from mobile you'll see that all it does is start a Google Meet and (only on mobile at the moment) it rings the person you called.
Since it's just a Google Meet you can add anyone you like to it.
Here's the live demo Google made of this back in 2019, believe it or not, and you'll see what it was planned to do (these plans may have changed)
https://youtu.be/AJYLHhdYu_4?t=4535

I entirely agree that it's very unlikely to appear in the next 14 days, but I find it hard to believe that you're leaving the product over that one issue.

There may be more information available if you have access to the Workspace Roadmap as it's a feature announced long ago.