Hangouts SMS, GChat Dead: Google Kills Products In Favor Of Hangouts, Android Messages

Google Talk, known as GChat, will be replaced by Google Hangouts in an effort to “streamline” Hangouts and Gmail, the company announced in a blog post Friday.

GChat launched in 2005 and served as an easy communication method between Gmail users. Google Hangouts launched in 2013 and started replacing GChat, while users still had the option of using GChat.

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After June 26, GChat will fully transition to Hangouts, Google said. The Google Talk Android app will also stop working, which means users should install Hangouts instead.

“With the introduction of Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat, which add further improvements in meetings and team collaboration, it is now time to say goodbye to Google Talk,” the company said.

In case you preferred GChat, there will be a “Dense Roster setting” in Hangouts that is similar to Google Talk.

Google will also remove SMS support for Hangouts starting May 22. Google is telling users to switch to Android Messages.

Google explained the move in the post saying:

“We want to provide a consistent and easy-to-use SMS experience for Android users, right out of the box. So we’re focused on making Android Messages the primary place to access SMS and are working with carriers and device manufacturers to include Android Messages natively in Android devices. Over time, we’re working with partners to upgrade SMS to RCS —the next standard in carrier messaging that will bring features like read receipts, group chat, hi-res photo sharing and more.”

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Google also said it will retire several Gmail labs starting April 24. Labs which will be retired are: Authentication Icon, Google Voice Player, Picasa previews, Pictures in chat, Quick Links, Quote Selected Text, Smartlabels, and Yelp previews.

Google will also retire certain Google+ functionalities on Gmail, including the ability to email Google+ profiles and the use of Google+ Circles, also starting April 24.