Google brings Meet video calls into Gmail app

A new Meet tab will appear in the app 'in the coming weeks'

The Gmail app for Android and iOS has received a major update (Getty Images)

Google has announced that its Meet functionality is being rolled into its Gmail app on Android and iOS, so users will now be able to video call others.

Previously, Google had made its video chatting platform Meet freely available for everyone last month, as well as integrating it into its Gmail web client.

Users are able to create virtual meetings of up to 100 people at a time.

While Google Meet can be installed as a standalone app, the new update means that is no longer necessary.

A new Google Meet tab will be added to the bottom of the Gmail inbox, giving people quick access to the function.

Clicking that tab will show users every meeting they have scheduled in Google Calendar, as well as allowing them to join those meetings in a single tap.

The “New meeting” button in that tab will also let you start a meeting instantly, automatically generating a meeting link and a button to share the invitation with others.

For those who do not want Meet in their mail, it can be disabled via the Settings menu in the top left hand corner of the inbox, tapping on your account, and then unchecking the Meet box.

The search giant has not given details for an exact launch date, but says that it will be rolled out “in the coming weeks.”

Such a move is sure to be tighter competition for other apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, with the former under criticism for its end-to-end encryption decisions.

Recently, Mozilla and the Electronic Frontier Foundation petitioned Zoom to roll out end-to-end encryption for all users, rather than offering it as a premium for paid accounts.

This was after Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, saying that this decision was that to the company can work better with law enforcement.

However, neither Google Meet nor Microsoft Teams is end-to-end encrypted, so those looking for a secure way to video call may want to consider alternative apps such as Facebook-owned WhatsApp.