Google is delaying the shutdown of its Internet Protocol Chat and Call app, Hangouts. G Suite users initially learned that Hangouts would be removed from October. Now the G Suite customer move deadline has been pushed back to "not before June 2020".

The company said it had taken into account G Suite customer feedback, noting that they needed more time to switch from classic Hangouts to new apps, Hangouts Chat, and Hangouts Meet. In an updated timeline, Google now indicates that G Suite users will be able to voluntarily switch from the classic Hangout to Hangouts Chat in the first half of 2020. Systematic retirement will begin sometime later.

The usual customers had to start going to live chat after launching the process for G Suite customers. Today, the company states that "no change will be made to the mainstream version of Hangouts Classics" and that support will continue.

When we contacted Google for clarification on what this ultimately meant for the closure of the consumer version, the company responded with the following statement:

To clarify, we will continue to support consumer use of classic Hangouts in the meantime. We are still expecting consumers to migrate to free chat and dating after the transition of G Suite customers (which has been postponed to our blog today).

We may have to wait for another update to get a stop date from the consumer.

For now, classic hangouts will be regularly maintained, and discussions with Hangouts will benefit from new features such as reading defenses. G Suite groups that have already started the moving process can register their interest in an accelerated transition program. Details can be found at the links below.