Tag Archives: Google Meet

Google Meet attendance reports available now for education meetings with two or more participants

Quick summary

Google Workspace Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade users will now automatically receive an attendance report anytime a meeting has two or more participants. Previously, attendance tracking was limited to meetings with five or more participants. 

Attendance reports include the following information:

  • Participant’s name 
  • Participant’s email 
  • Overall length of time a participant was on the call, including when they joined and exited


Getting started


Rollout pace


Resources


Built-in Webex interoperability on Google Meet hardware expanded to devices with remote control

What’s changing 

In December 2022, we began supporting built-in Webex interoperability on Google Meet hardware devices. When it originally launched, this feature required a Meet hardware device with either a connected touch controller or built-in touchscreen. With this latest update, we've added Webex interoperability support for Google Meet hardware devices that use only a remote control. 

Built-in Webex interoperability will now be available across all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

We hope this update makes it even easier for Google Workspace customers and their users to connect and collaborate with people outside the Google Meet ecosystem. 


Additional details 

There is no additional cost associated with this new built-in Webex interoperability feature on supported devices. 

Please note that core video conferencing features are supported. Some advanced features, such as polls, breakout rooms, and dual-screen support, may not be available when using Meet hardware to join Webex calls. 

For interoperability needs beyond Cisco Webex, we recommend Pexip. Pexip enables users to join Meet calls from a range of third-party video conferencing hardware, including older devices that may not support built-in interoperability. Use this Help Center article to learn more about Pexip. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: Webex interop on Google Meet hardware will be available on devices by default and can be disabled at the OU level at Devices > Google Meet hardware > Settings > Device Settings. 
  • End users: When enabled by your admin, you can join a Webex meeting from a Google Meet hardware device by: 
    • Joining an ad-hoc call by selecting Join a meeting using your remote control and then selecting Webex from the dropdown options 
    • Joining a scheduled call by adding a room to an event with Webex meeting details. 
      • Note: Calendar events that originate outside of Google Calendar must be duplicated and populated with room details manually. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about Meet interoperability. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available for all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date.

Resources: 

Expanded Access Management Controls help support your information governance goals

What’s changing 

Google Workspace Assured Controls enables customers to meet strict regulatory information governance requirements. With Access Management, customers can limit the Google staff who can take support actions related to their data. 

Customers can now use Access Management to set policies that support compliance to the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) standard and the IRS' Publication 1075 (IRS 1075) by restricting access to CJIS-authorized and IRS-1075-authorized personnel within Google. Visit the Help Center to learn more. 

We’ve also extended existing coverage so customers can now apply Access Management Controls to the following applications: 

  • Google Chat 
  • Google Meet 
  • Google Forms 
  • Google Sites 

Visit the Help Center to learn more. 

Finally, we’re adding new information to Access Transparency logs to help you better understand support actions relating to your data. Customers with Access Management policies will see a new field “Access Management Policy” that denotes the validated policy at the time of access. All Access Transparency customers will now see a new “On Behalf Of” field that describes the target user of an access. Visit the Help Center to learn more. 

For more information on this and other Google Workspace Security launches, see our Cloud Blog post.

Who’s impacted 

Admins 

Why you’d use it 

Some customers in regulated industries, particularly the public sector, have compliance requirements related to cloud service provider access to data. Since Assured Controls is available on Google Workspace’s native platform, you don’t need to move to a separate GovCloud environment for access to these capabilities. This can help reduce costs and complexity, while allowing your organization to benefit from the full set of advanced features that Google Workspace offers. 

Additional Details 

Note that we do not access customer data for any reason other than those necessary to provide support services and fulfill our contractual and legal obligations. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: 
    •  Once you’ve purchased the Assured Controls add-on, you can assign licenses and manage the feature at Admin Console > Access Management. Users assigned the policy will have any data owned by them restricted to designated selected personnel within our support teams. 
    • Access Management is surfaced for logging in the Access Transparency logs. 
    • Access Management can also be used to support CJIS and IRIS-1075 requirements. 
  • End users: There is no end user impact 

Rollout pace 

These changes will be rolling out by the end of March 

  • Existing Assured Controls customers will automatically have controls applied to the newly available products on any active Access Management policies 
  • New customers should contact your Google account representative to learn more about availability and timing 

Availability 

  • Google Workspace Assured Controls is available as an add-on to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Education Fundamentals, and Education Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, and Nonprofits customers 

Resources 

Background noise reduction now available for Google Meet Hardware devices

What’s changing 

We’re bringing our software-based noise cancellation capability to the following Google Meet hardware devices: 
Use this YouTube video to learn more about noise cancellation in Google Meet. 


Additionally, we’ve added a new admin control which allows you to specify whether noise cancellation is on or off at the beginning of each call. See below for more information and availability. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

To help limit distractions in your video call, Google Meet devices can remove background noises such as typing, closing a door, or the sounds of a nearby construction site. Noise cancellation helps make calls more productive by reducing distractions that can divert attention away from the content of the meeting. 


Additional details 

  • Noise cancellation is not available for Series One Meet Compute Systems. Series One Meet Compute Systems will only use "True Voice" for noise cancellation, which requires a Series One Smart Audio Bar or Series One Mic Pod. 
  • The admin setting for managing noise cancellation will not change the behavior for SeriesOne devices at the time of this launch. This will be implemented in the coming weeks — we will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog at that time. 

Getting started 


Admin console per-device setting for controlling noise cancellation for each call




On-device setting for controlling noise cancellation while on a call





Rollout pace 



Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Teaching & Learning, Education Standard and Education Plus customers, as well as G Suite Business and Basic customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials and Nonprofits customers 

Resources 

Configure Chromebase for Meetings display to automatically turn off when not in use

Quick summary 

Admins can now configure Chromebase for Meetings in their fleet to automatically turn off the display when not in use. We’ve heard from our customers that reducing power consumption is increasingly important — we hope this helps customers achieve their sustainability goals or comply with local energy efficiency requirements. 




Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature will respect the current power saving setting for Chromebase for Meetings devices, and can be changed at the organizational unit level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing power-saving settings. 
  • End users: No action required — to wake a device, simply tap on the screen. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers with Google Meet hardware devices 

Resources 

View bandwidth availability and usage during meetings via the Meet quality tool

What’s changing 

Admins can now use the Meet quality tool to view inbound and outbound bandwidth information—both used and available—for their users. Surfacing this information helps admins visualize participants bandwidth compared to the quality of a call, making it easier for them to determine where a bandwidth bottleneck could be causing low quality. 


Admins can use the graphs to view sent and received bandwidth, used bandwidth, and the bandwidth availability over time.



Hovering over a data point surfaces numerical readouts and exact timestamps. 


Who’s impacted


Admins


Why it’s important

Knowing which bitrates are available or being used for specific endpoints is critical data when performing troubleshooting or working to improve call quality in your domain. Previously, this data was only available as an average across entire calls, which can make it difficult to narrow down problems during specific points in time. 


We hope by surfacing this detailed information, Admins can easily troubleshoot or improve call quality for their users.


Getting started


  • Admins: This feature will be available by default. From the Admin console, navigate to Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Meet quality tool. Alternatively, you can search for a meeting code, organizer, or participant from the search bar to access the Meet quality tool. Visit the Help Center to learn more about tracking meeting quality and statistics.
  • End users: There is no end user impact.


Rollout pace

  • This feature is currently available

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources


Roadmap


Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – February 22, 2022

New updates 

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time (if not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete), and available to all Google Workspace and legacy G Suite customers. 



Japanese grammar suggestions for Google Docs 
You'll now see grammar suggestions as you type in Japanese in Docs. Grammar suggestions can help you write faster and more accurately. | Learn more.



Previous announcements 

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details. 



Manage overdue tasks in Google Calendar You can now easily see and manage your overdue tasks in Google Calendar. 
If you have uncompleted tasks that were due in the past 30 days, you will have an all day entry that will tell you how many tasks are pending from that timeframe. | Learn more. 



Participate in Google Meet polls and Q&As on Chromebase for meetings 
You can now participate in Google Meet polls and Q&As when joining from a Chromebase for meetings all-in-one touchscreen device. | Learn more.



The future of Currents and the next generation of collaboration in Spaces 
With Spaces now available, starting in 2023 we are planning to wind down Google Currents and bring remaining content and communities over to the new Spaces experience. | Learn more here and here. 



Google Voice calls between many European numbers are now included in Google Voice licenses
Beginning February 8, 2022, calls from European Google Voice numbers to mobile and landline numbers in many European countries will be included with the cost of the Google Voice license. | Learn more. 



For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Participate in Google Meet polls and Q&As on Chromebase for meetings

What’s changing 

You can now participate in Google Meet polls and Q&As when joining from a Chromebase for meetings all-in-one touchscreen device.


Who’s impacted

End users



Why you’d use it

This update can foster more inclusive hybrid meetings by giving participants in conference rooms and classrooms a way to engage in these key activities from Chromebase for meetings devices.



Additional details

Q&A
When using a Chromebase device:
  • Meeting participants can view, sort, and upvote questions.
  • Note: meeting organizers can start Q&As from Meet on web, Android, and iOs devices only.

View and upvote questions on Chromebase for meetings




Polls
When using a Chromebase device:
  • Meeting participants can vote on any poll during the meeting. Note that the vote will be attributed to your Chromebase device.
  • Note: meeting organizers can create a poll from Meet on web, Android, and iOS devices only. 

Participate in meeting polls by voting on Chromebase for meetings




Visit the Help Center to learn more about conducting polls and asking participants questions in Meet, and the supported Google Workspace editions.


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using polls and Q&As in Google Meet.


Rollout pace


Availability



Resources



New integrated view for Gmail features email, Google Meet, Google Chat and Spaces in one place

What’s changing 

We’re introducing a new, integrated view for Gmail, making it easy to move between critical applications like Gmail, Chat and Meet in one unified location.





We’ll introduce this new experience according to this timeline:



Beginning February 8, 2022: 
  • Users can opt-in to test the new experience, allowing them to try it out and become more accustomed to it. Users can revert to classic Gmail via settings. 
  • We will share an update on the Workspace Updates Blog, along with Help Center content, once rollout begins.

By April 2022: 
  • Users who have not opted-in will begin seeing the new experience by default, but can revert to classic Gmail via settings.

By the end of Q2 2022: 
  • This will become the standard experience for Gmail, with no option to revert back.
  • Around the same time, users will also begin seeing the new streamlined navigation experience on Chat web (mail.google.com/chat). 
  • Important Note: This also means users will not have the option to configure Chat to display on the right side of Gmail.




We will share more information on the exact timing of these phases on the Workspace Updates blog. See below for more information.



Who’s impacted

End users



Why you’d use it 

When enabled, the new navigation menu allows you to easily switch between your inbox, important conversations, and join meetings without having to switch between tabs or open a new window. 


Notification bubbles make it easy to stay on top of what immediately needs your attention. When working in Chat and Spaces, you can view a full list of conversations and Spaces within a single screen, making it easier to navigate to and engage. 


When working in your inbox, you’ll be able to view the full array of Mail and Label options currently available in Gmail today. 


In the coming months, you will also see email and chat results when using the search bar, making it easier to find what you need by eliminating the need to search within a specific product.



We hope this new experience makes it easier for you to stay on top of what’s important and get work done faster in a single, focused location. Further, this will help reduce the need to switch between various applications, windows, or tabs.


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled by the user from their Gmail settings. 

Rollout pace

  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 8, 2022
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility starting on February 22, 2022

Note: We will share an update on the Workspace Updates Blog, along with Help Center content, once rollout begins.


Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials customers

Use Companion mode with Google Meet hardware and Nest Hub Max to maximize collaboration during hybrid meetings

What’s changing

In 2021, we pre-announced Companion mode in Google Meet, which is designed to seamlessly connect those in meeting rooms with their remote teammates, giving everyone access to interactive features and controls, while leveraging the best of in-room audio and video conferencing capabilities.

Beginning today, you can use Companion mode on the web when joining a meeting using Google Meet hardware or the Nest Hub Max. Companion mode allows you to access interactive features and controls such as chat, screen sharing, hand raising, polls, host controls and more.

Companion mode is designed to be similar to a full video call on web, so that you can navigate the interface faster while avoiding audio feedback.


You can join a meeting using Companion mode from the green room before your meeting or by using g.co/companion. If you intend to immediately share content, you can simultaneously join the meeting and present with Companion mode by using g.co/present.



Join Companion Mode by selecting “Use Companion mode” under Other joining options



Use g.co/companion to join meetings on your calendar or by entering your meeting code. 



Who’s impacted

End users


Why it’s important

Hybrid meetings and classes are growing as some begin to return to office or school, while others remain remote. Companion mode fosters collaboration equity for all attendees regardless of where they’re joining a meeting from. Companion mode complements functionality on Google Meet hardware and Nest Hub Max by enabling attendees to:
  • See a presentation up close, 
  • Participate in chat,
  • Initiate polls or vote, 
  • Raise hands with their names associated, 
  • Use host controls,
  • Enable captions and translations in their preferred languages. 

All Google Meet users can connect to meetings using Companion mode on the web. The availability of features, such as hand raising, depends on your Google Workspace edition. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Meet feature availability across Google Workspace editions.


Additional details

You’ll notice prompts on Meet hardware and Nest Hub Max devices for Companion mode when chat messages are sent or other interactive activities are initiated in a meeting.  



The tiles of participants using Companion mode will be hidden from the video grid to maximize screen space for video feeds unless they raise their digital hand. Additionally, in the meeting roster, those using Companion mode will be identified as such. 




Using Companion mode will count as an additional meeting participant and the overall meeting participant count. For example, if you join using a Meet hardware device and use Companion mode on your laptop, it is treated as two meeting participants.



Companion mode users in the call are indicated in the participant roster.




External meeting guests and meeting participants without Google accounts can use Companion mode and g.co/companion, but they’ll need to ask to join the meeting.


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: 
    • This feature will be available by default. You can join a meeting on the web using Companion mode from the green room before your meeting.
    • Alternatively, use g.co/present to present directly from the web using Companion mode.
    • Note: Your audio and mic will automatically be muted—we recommend using meeting room hardware for audio and video to avoid feedback. Additionally, the chat panel will be open by default.
    • Use this Help Center article and video guide to learn more about using Companion mode in Google Meet.

Rollout pace

Companion Mode on web and g.co/companion

Note: For Google Workspace Individual customers and users with personal Google accounts, there will be a gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 13, 2022.


Activity notifications on Google Meet hardware and Nest Hub Max 

Use this post in our community forum for more information on rollout progression and additional FAQs.

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, G Suite Basic and Business customers
  • Also available to Google Workspace Individual customers, as well as users with personal Google accounts

Resources