Google announced that Gmail’s new layout changes the way Google Chat, Meet, and Spaces are integrated. It is reported that it will start a trial in February, wait until April to become the default option, and become the only option by the end of the second quarter of 2022.
This view enables Google’s other messaging tools (belonging to, but not necessarily limited to), part of its business-focused Workspace suite, to no longer just be little windows floating next to emails, but to have their own screen in Gmail, It is accessed via the large button on the left.
Google calls this an integrated view, and it’s coming soon if it’s a Workspace customer. Starting February 8, Google says users will be able to start testing the layout for themselves.
By April, anyone who hasn’t opted in will be switched to the new layout but will be able to switch back in the settings. According to Google, this option will disappear by the end of the second quarter, when the new layout will become “the standard experience for Gmail.
The new view can be polarizing — and while managing chats and meetings can be a bit confusing in the current Gmail layout, it’s all happening on one screen, which is nice if users like data density. For those looking to focus on one thing at a time, based on what Google has shown so far, the new interface looks like it could give it easy access to other tools without having to keep them on screen all the time.
Google says it will have notification bubbles to let you know if other tools need your attention, which may be less distracting than having a list of all its chats live to the left and right of an email.
Google has shown that it wants to deeply integrate all of its work-related products, a layout that will give its customers a taste of what’s possible, and tools like Spaces that let users jump into spreadsheets without leaving Gmail.
The services will also become more integrated — for example, Gmail searches will also have Chat messages in the coming months, according to the company’s disclosures.
Google says that own Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Basic, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Educational Basic, Educational Plus, Frontier, Nonprofit, G Suite Basic, or People with Business accounts will see this integrated view.
Currently, it won’t be available to Workspace Essentials customers. When asked if this layout would come to regular, non-paid Gmail customers, a Google spokesperson said it would only work with the aforementioned account types.