If I had a dollar for every piece of new tech released admin COVID, I’d have lots of dollars! And if Zoom had a dollar for every new competitor in the last month, well, it’d have lots of dollars too.
Google, the latest to release software to assist SME’s during this time of crisis has unveiled Google Meet.
But is it really new? Not really. Hangouts Meet rebranded to Google Meet in April 2020, releasing a free version in May.
With all the privacy issues surrounding Zoom, you’d have to think that Google Meet will come across as the safer product, because it uses the same infrastructure that helps Google protect your data and privacy. That’s good right?
Correct, but:
What is Google Meet?
Google Meet is a video conferencing application. The solution enables users to make video calls with up to 100 participant per video meeting.
Can anyone join the call?
Yes. Kind-of.
Only users with a Google Account can join the free account. That’s anyone with a Gmail, Google Photos, YouTube, or another Google product, just sign in to commence using.
You’re in luck if you’re a G Suite customer, because once you’ve created a meeting, you can invite anyone to join even if they don’t have a Google Account.
Is Google Meet Free?
Yes. Kind-of.
If you’re using the free version you just need a Google Account, then you can invite up to 100 users and host meeting for up to 60 minutes. Google like others has extended an offer allowing users (until September 30th, 2020) to host meetings for up to 24 hours. Why, well, why not!
If you’re wanting additional features such as international dial-in numbers, meeting recording, live streaming, and greater admin control, you’ll need to pay – see plans and pricing here.
How do I access and broadcast on Google Meet?
It’s actually pretty simple. If you’re broadcasting from a computer – just open up a browser and ensure your webcam, microphone and audio are turned on. If you’re on your mobile, download the app from Google Play or Apple Store and away you go!
What does the Google Meet free account include?
Pretty much everything you could ask for.
Unlimited number of meetings with up to 100 participants, live captioning, compatibility across multiple devices, video and audio preview screen, adjustable layouts and screen settings, some admin controls for hosts, screen sharing, messaging and calendar integration.
How much product share is this going to take from Zoom, Messenger Rooms, Skype for Business etc, we’re not sure but we look forward to writing about the next big entrant into the video conferencing space.
