Last Updated: March 29, 2024, 14:00 IST
Voice message now comes to Google Chat but not for everyone
Google Chat is offering the new feature to select users for now but the free accounts will have to wait for a while.
Google has started rolling out the voice message feature on Google Chat for select users. The tool, which was previewed last year, allows users to record and transmit voice messages. The voice message capability is currently only available to paying Google Workspace subscribers. Google Chat voice messaging feature was first previewed in 2023.
With the current version, the send symbol next to the photo button has been replaced by a microphone button. The prominent placement of the microphone button will make it easier for consumers to send voice communications.
Google Chat: How To Send Voice Messages
To send a voice message in Google Chat, users must first tap the microphone icon and begin recording. Unlike other apps, users are not forced to hold down the microphone, and a “live waveform visualises your voice” along with a timer. You can listen to the message before sending it or delete it to try again.
The recorded messages will be displayed in direct messages, group conversations, and Spaces in the form of a pill. Other users can respond to the voice message in the same way that they would any other chat message. Google has also revealed that its voice message transcription capability will be available soon.
The voice message feature is currently accessible for Android and iOS users. “Sending a voice message instead of typing enables you to save time, convey more information, and emphasise the most important information for the message receiver,” the company said in a blog post. Google stated that voice messages in Google Chat were a “highly requested feature” and described how this new feature can benefit consumers.
The Google Chat voice messaging feature is now accessible for Workspace Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus users. For the time being, free and lower-cost accounts will be unable to access the feature.
Additionally, Google has also confirmed that the feature is already being rolled out and will be available in the coming weeks. The feature is currently only available on mobile devices. The firm also stated that the feature will be available shortly on Google Chat online client.