Google brings chat and communication app development into one team

Google outsources the development of all its chat and communication apps to the G Suite team. Until now, different teams were responsible for apps like Google Meet, Google Chat, Messages, Duo, and the Phone app.

Google confirms in a statement to The Verge that Javier Soltero will now be in charge of all of Google’s communications products. He was appointed the vice president and general manager of the G Suite team in October last year. The further development of all chat and communication apps now falls under his leadership.

Google Meet, formerly Hangouts Meet, and Google Chat were already part of the G Suite team. So now the Messages and Phone apps are added, just like video calling app Google Duo. Soltero tells The Verge there are no plans at this time to make changes to the offering. Google has no plans to reduce the number of apps for the time being.

The search giant is known for its fragmented offering of chat and communication apps. For example, a chat function was added to the Photos app at the end of last year. A few years ago, Google also had chat app Allo in its range, but that has been deleted.

Soltero has a lot of experience with messaging apps. co-founded email app Acompli, which was purchased by Microsoft in 2014 for $200 million. Microsoft converted that app into Outlook Mobile in a few months.