Google has confirmed that users of its Hangouts communications software will need to migrate to Google Chat next year. The announcement comes less than a month after the launch of Google Workspace, the company's renowned collection of collaboration and productivity tools, which includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Chat and Meet. Now, it has been announced that Chat will replace Hangouts for everyone starting next year. The chat will be free for consumers and will be available in Gmail as well as a standalone app. All Hangouts functionality will be retained, along with new chat additions like suggested replies and emoji reactions. “Starting in the first half of 2021, anyone can start switching from Hangouts to Chat,” said Matthew Leske, Group Product Manager at Google Chat. "To ensure a smooth transition, we'll help you automatically migrate your Hangouts conversations, contacts, and saved history. We'll share more specific tips on what to do when we begin the transition process."