Google Meet, the search engine giant’s video conferencing tool, made its premium features free for all in April. This gave pandemic-stricken users access to unlimited meetings and allowed Google to compete with the meteoric rise of Zoom.

But this was always meant to be temporary, a free trial period extended to the general public. Now, the free version of Google Meet will begin capping meetings for free users at 60 minutes and 100 users after Sept. 30.

“We don’t have anything to communicate regarding changes to the promo and advanced features expiring,” Google told The Verge in response to questions about the upcoming change. “If this changes, we’ll be sure to let you know.”

How much this change will affect users comes down to how their businesses might operate. If a smaller business uses Meet to conduct quick check-ins, it will be unlikely to notice any difference. However, any business that relies on these types of services for prolonged contact with other employees working remotely might now have to consider putting up some cash.

Google Meet’s premium features come alongside G Suite Essentials, a package that costs $8 a month. With this subscription, users can conduct meetings with a maximum length of 300 hours – effectively unlimited for any business or personal needs – and up to 150 users.

Google parent Alphabet is settling a lawsuit on sexual misconduct that eliminates a requirement for private arbitration of disputes
Google parent Alphabet is settling a lawsuit on sexual misconduct that eliminates a requirement for private arbitration of disputes AFP / Fabrice COFFRINI
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