Google Chat has been a useful tool among the G Suite applications when the need arises to chat with contacts inside a domain. Now, Google has announced that they will be removing the domain constraints and let user’s chat with people outside of their G Suite domains.
The constraint of only being able to chat within a domain can be quite limiting, especially in situations like when a user needs to co-ordinate with a vendor or a teacher needs to contact their student’s parents. Often they would be required to use other instant messaging services, which can be confusing to keep track off.
With Google adding the ability for G suite customer’s to chat outside of their domains, users can keep all their communications in one central place. The only requirement is that the person who needs to be contacted, should have a Gmail account. When chatting with this contact, Google will mark them with an “External badge” to inform the user.
The option to enable this feature will be controlled by the admins of a G Suite domain. They can control it from an organizational unit (OU) or at the domain level and also control whether users can create and join external Rooms within the organisation.
The ability to start external conversations will roll out gradually for all G Suite users starting 26th May, with everyone getting it by 9th June.