Google has unveiled a revamped Gmail that will assist as a hub for collaboration with usage of video, chat and shared files available from the e-mail client directly. It’s a move made to bring Google into closer competition with Microsoft Teams, in accordance with one analyst, aswell boosting its position against newcomers.

Google has moved lately to integrate its various G Suite apps with Gmail, using its Meet video and Chat team messaging applications being melded with the e-mail client gradually. Indeed, despite expectations in a few quarters that team chat shall kill email, Google has long seen Gmail because the natural home for collaboration in its portfolio.

{{A fresh} Gmail app unveiled at the company’s Cloud Next event {wednesday underscored Google&rsquo on;} {s intention {for connecting} its various tools {a lot more} tightly.|s intention {for connecting} its various tools more tightly even.}

{{Area of the} changes to Gmail include an updated mobile app with {fast access} to Mail,|{Area of the} noticeable changes to Gmail include an updated mobile app with {fast access} to Mail,} Chat, {Rooms and Meet functionality via four buttons on {underneath} menu bar.|Meet and rooms functionality via four buttons on {underneath} menu bar.} Rooms, {much like} a Slack channel, {{allows} users to jump {directly into} a group chat,|{allows} users to jump {right into a} group chat straight,} for example.
Google
{The Rooms feature {allows} users to jump {directly into} a group chat.|The Rooms feature {allows} users to jump {right into a} group chat straight.}

Google also {really wants to} make it {better to|simpler to} switch between apps in the browser-based version of Gmail, {having the ability to} jump {from the} text {talk with} a video call, {for example}, or shift a conversation from email to a chat room. {The goal is to} reduce distractions, allowing conversations to take place in the most appropriate channel, whether it be chat for real-time conversations, face-to-face video, or email for asynchronous messaging.

{The company {in addition has} focused on productivity,|The company has {centered on} productivity,} with the introduction of “side-by-side” {document editing that lets {associates} {interact} on a document within Gmail.|document editing that lets {associates} {focus on} a document within Gmail together.} {{Usage of} Google Docs and Sheets from {inside a} single app echoes Microsoft’|{Usage of} Google Sheets and Docs from {inside a} single app echoes Microsoft’}s focus with Teams, which acts as a portal to its Office apps. It’{s also possible to schedule tasks {that may be} assigned to teammates.|s possible to schedule tasks {that may be} assigned to teammates also.}

Other features announced Wednesday include:

• • Expanded Gmail search to cover Chat conversations, {rendering it} easier to locate {home elevators|info on} a specific project, {{whether or not} {it really is} held in email {or perhaps a} group chat.|{whether or not} {it really is} held in email {or perhaps a} combined group chat.}
  • Do not disturb and out-of-office warnings {that may be} set up {over the} various apps, {while suggestions and nudges {will} prioritize information.|while nudges and suggestions {will} prioritize information.}

{

• New features in the works still,} including the {capability to} jump {directly into} a video meeting {from the} shared document with picture-in-picture video.

{The new Gmail {happens to be} available as a preview,|The new Gmail {can be acquired} as a preview currently,} with Google to expand {usage of} G Suite customers in the coming weeks.
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{Expanded Gmail search {covers} Chat conversations,|Expanded Gmail search shall cover Chat conversations,} making it {better to|simpler to} locate information on {a particular} project.

Placing Gmail {because the} {center point} of its collaboration strategy allows Google to play to its strengths {since it} competes with other collaboration vendors {supplying a} suite of apps, said Raul Castanon, senior analyst at 451 Research/S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“It’{s fair {to state} that Google {is really a} bit late to the party,|s fair {to state} that Google {is really a} bit late to the ongoing party,} {considering that} UCaaS vendors like Cisco, RingCentral, {Fuze and Microsoft {have already been} fighting the ‘|Microsoft and fuze {have already been} fighting the ‘}best of breed’ vs integrated battle {for some time},” he said, {{discussing} unified communications as {something}.|{discussing} unified communications as a ongoing service.} “However, this latest update, which places Gmail {because the} central hub for productivity within G Suite, {{not merely} closes the gap but actually puts G Suite one step ahead.|{not merely} closes the gap but puts G Suite one step ahead actually.}

“{The mantra for productivity and collaboration has {gone to} ‘|The mantra for collaboration and productivity has {gone to} ‘}kill email’ {for quite some time}, yet it remains {the very best} productivity app {at work},” Castanon said.

Tighter integration {between your} G Suite apps, he said, “enhances the value” of Google’s chat and conferencing solutions, {which helps {since it} competes with vendors offering point solutions for individual apps like chat and video.|which helps {since it} competes with vendors offering point solutions for individual apps like video and chat.}

“{{This will} help strengthen its position against players {such as for example} Slack and Zoom,|{This will} help strengthen its position against players {such as for example} Zoom and Slack,} {that have} dominated the ‘best of breed’ conversation in those two areas, {while {at exactly the same time} {getting into} providing comprehensive productivity and collaboration technologies.|while {at exactly the same time} {getting into} providing comprehensive collaboration and productivity technologies.}”