Google has announced the end of a little-known tool in its ecosystem: Google Maps chat. From July 15, it will no longer be possible to send text messages to local businesses via Google Maps.
Another service that will join the cemetery of Google applications. In an email sent to its customers, Google announced that “establishment sheet cats» will no longer be available from mid-July 2024. This tool, not necessarily well known to the general public, was used to start a text discussion with a company, directly from the Google Maps interface.
No more messages via Google Maps
Born around 2018, the functionality aimed to transform customer relations by allowing everyone to get in touch with local businesses to ask a few quick questions. An alternative to the good old phone call or email that’s a little too formal. At the time, however, the service used good old SMS or Google Allo (another messaging application shelved by Google).
Since then, the messaging tool has been directly integrated into the Google Maps application to allow businesses to manage their customer communications and management tools on a single platform. The functionality has, however, never completely met its audience, in France at least, since few establishments display the little button “Discuss» on their Google Maps page.
A tight timeline
For the few companies that still used this tool, Google established a timeline for closing its service. Starting July 15, it will no longer be possible to start new discussions on Google Maps, but those who have ongoing discussions will be able to continue to use the feature. From July 31, however, the service will be purely and simply closed and all exchanges will be closed.
Companies will still be able to download their chat history via Google Takeout if necessary. Google specifies that this data will also be destroyed from the servers “at some point“, so don’t forget to keep a copy locally if necessary. The search giant does not give very clear reasons for the closure of the service and advises, for companies that need it, to use an alternative chat tool. No doubt WhatsApp will be very happy with this news.
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There is no doubt that Google Maps is the king application in the field of cartography and geolocation. Simple, practical and complete, it offers tons of features to its users, who take advantage of them on a daily basis to get to various meeting points. The various opinions also allow you to get a good idea of the quality of the addresses to which the user goes. Overall, it’s a must-have.
There is no doubt that Google Maps is the king application in the field of cartography and geolocation. Simple, practical and complete, it offers tons of features to its users, who take advantage of them on a daily basis to get to various meeting points. The various opinions also allow you to get a good idea of the quality of the addresses to which the user goes. Overall, it’s a must-have.
Source : Ars Technica
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