Google stops support for the 5,000 euro Jamboard and app

Google will stop supporting the Jamboard app and physical whiteboards starting next year. These touchscreen devices went on sale in 2016 for $5,000, but they will eventually no longer work or be unsafe. Google points users to alternatives such as Miro.

Jamboard support ends at the end of next year, writes Google. On a support page Google mentions the date as September 30, 2024. From then on, the whiteboards will no longer receive automatic updates. This means that there may be insecurity in the firmware or that functions may no longer work properly. The support that business customers receive for the device through Google Workspace will also expire on that date.

From October 2024, Google will also pull the plug on the Jamboard app. The physical Jamboard could be used with an online canvas that users could collaborate on and integrate with Google Workspace services like Drive and Meet. The physical device can still be used, but not with the Jamboard software.

Google says it has heard from customers that they found other devices and services to work better. The company specifically mentions the tools FigJam, Lucidspark and Miro. The company therefore says it will release more integrations between Google software and those tools.

In the coming months, Google also plans to release an export tool for Jamboard data. This makes it possible to back up their data, but it is also possible to migrate directly to FigJam, LucidSpark and Miro.

Google launched the Jamboard in 2017. The device is a 55″ touchscreen device with a UHD resolution and includes a camera and microphone. Companies and schools could use the device as a collaborative work board on which users could take digital notes with markers. The device cost $5,000 to purchase, but it also required a license costing $600 per year.