About a week ago, we reported that Google had made some changes to their OEM requirements in which Hangouts will no longer be required to be bundled with Android phones. OEMs still have the option of including Hangouts, but are no longer required to do so and will have to replace it with Duo, Google’s video calling app.
Now it seems that Google themselves are following the new rules that they have set out because according to a report from Chrome Unboxed, they have obtained a screenshot from the upcoming Pixel phones which shows that Google Hangouts has been disabled on the phone in favor of both Allo and Duo.
Now the disabling of Hangouts doesn’t really mean that much. Users can quickly re-enable the app via the Play Store, so it’s just a slight inconvenience at most, although we’re guessing that users who are less savvy might be frustrated when they try to look for the app. Now Google has stated that Hangouts will be aimed more towards its business users so this move isn’t all that surprising.
However like we said, for those who still use Hangouts, the app will still be there and Google isn’t going to shut it down, it’s just that its presence on Android may no longer be as prominent as it once was.
Filed in . Read more about Allo, Android, Apps, Duo, Google, Google Pixel and Hangouts.