Google Meet to restrict group calls to 60 minutes for free users

• Free Gmail users will now be able to host group calls for 60 minutes only.
• One-on-one calls will remain unaffected as per the new guidelines.
• Hosts can upgrade to a paid Google Workspace account to enjoy the benefits of unlimited talk time.
  

Google has decided to impose a 60-minute limit on group calls for free users. The company has taken the decision after postponing the imposition of time limit a couple of times since its release for all users in April 2020. However, it must be noted when the service was made available to all users, there was still a time limit, but Google had not imposed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Google Meet has shared the guidelines with information about the time limit. The one-on-one calls do not have a 60-minute limit and can go on for up to 24 hours. Calls with three or more participants will have the time restriction. As per the guidelines, all users will get a notification at 55 minutes that the call is about to end. To extend the call, the host can upgrade their Google account to a paid one, else the call will end after 60 minutes. Alternatively, users can simply end the ongoing call and start a new one for free.

For Google Workspace business, enterprise, education and individual subscribers, there is no limit on the number of participants or time and the group calls go up to 24 hours.

Google offers individual Workspace upgrades starting at ₹125 per month. If the hosts upgrade their account, then the calls can go on for up to 24 hours. The individual Workspace upgrades have been launched in five countries, including India.

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