With the new ‘huddles’ feature in Google Chat, users can easily begin a meeting while chatting with colleagues at work. The new feature gives a button to initiate an audio call in picture-in-picture mode.
After other users have joined, users can add additional features like screen sharing or video. The company claims that the Huddle feature, which shares the same name as rival Slack’s, will work in both group chats and direct messages on Google Chat.
According to the company, Google Chat users on Rapid Release domains can access the new huddles functionality by December 20. The rollout is planned to start on January 6, 2025, therefore users on Scheduled Release domains will have to wait a few more weeks.
The company claims that Google Chat users can initiate huddles via spaces, group messages, and direct messages. A huddle will start as an audio call and users can turn on their video after joining. Other features available on regular Google Meet calls, such as screen sharing, will also be available on huddles.
Since 2021, Google’s competitor Slack has provided a tool of the same name, a year later, it was enhanced to allow video calls. The huddle function is available on both the desktop and mobile versions of Slack.
Google Chat users can initiate a huddle by clicking on the downward-pointing arrow next to the call button in a group chat window or direct message and then selecting Start a huddle. At the bottom right corner of the screen, the service will show a little picture-in-picture call with buttons for screen sharing, end call, mute, and video (which is turned off by default).
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Additionally, users can resize the huddle window’s size, which is useful if someone else is sharing their screen or if their camera is turned on. According to the company, users can continue using Google Chat while participating in the call by using the picture-in-picture option.
