This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
July 13, 2020, marked a significant development in video conferencing services as Google announced the integration of Meet into Gmail for Android and iOS users.
The dedicated Meet tab, first rolled out on iOS, will be widely available over the next two weeks and will soon be available on Android. This integration aims to meet the growing demands for video conferencing services.
Upon accessing the Meet tab, users will see a 'My Meetings' list of all upcoming scheduled calls. Tapping on any Meet link from the tab, an email, or a third-party app will take users to a new preview screen that provides basic details like the length and participants of the call.
The Meet experience in Gmail will replace the standalone Google Meet app when opening a link, though the client will remain available and receive some tweaks. A prominent blue 'New meeting' button will allow users to get a meeting link to share, start an instant meeting, or schedule in Google Calendar.
Google also confirmed that G Suite for Education accounts unable to create Meet video meetings will not see the Meet tab. Those users are advised to use the dedicated Meet for Android/iOS client.
Users can disable the Meet tab by accessing the settings on the hamburger menu in the top left corner of their inbox, tapping on their account, and unchecking the Meet option.
