Update re: end user routing settings (August 6, 2018):

End user routing settings are now read-only and can't be changed. Unlike the settings mentioned below, you don't have the option to CONVERT end user routing settings. Any required configuration changes need to be made via the recipient address mapping feature. We're in the process of automatically migrating end user routing settings and will continue to do so on an ongoing basis.

---

In January 2017, we announced some changes to the Gmail routing settings in the Admin console. For technical reasons, some of these changes were delayed past the originally communicated date and are now launching this month.

Convert old Gmail routing settings now

Going forward, your remaining Sending routing, Receiving routing, Catch-all address, and Domain-level routing settings are read-only. These settings are still active, but in order to make changes, you need to click the CONVERT button next to the existing rule.


Once you click CONVERT, we’ll convert the setting and map it to the new fields automatically. The converted setting will then be placed in the unified routing section, where all of your rules will be manageable from one place. The old setting will no longer be visible in the user interface, so you won’t need to clean up old rules afterward.


All settings automatically migrated starting July 11th

If you don’t convert your settings using the CONVERT button, they’ll be automatically migrated to the unified routing section no earlier than July 11th, 2018. This migration will take place over the course of several weeks.

Launch Details
Release track:

• CONVERT button launching to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release now
• Automatic migration starting for both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release no earlier than July 11th, 2018

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:

• CONVERT button: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)
• Automatic migration: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
Admins only

Action:
Admin action suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Set up routing for your domain or organization


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

At InfoComm in Las Vegas last week, we announced our partnership with Pexip to allow seamless compatibility between Hangouts Meet and other video conferencing systems like Skype for Business, Polycom, and Cisco. With this new interoperability, your team can walk into a meeting room outfitted with Hangouts Meet hardware and join a call with clients, vendors, or partners joining from another platform.

In addition to being compatible with other video conferencing software, it’s important that your meeting rooms are compatible with the hardware you need for your meetings. That’s why we’ve created a peripheral qualification program featuring cameras, audio devices, and cables certified for use with Hangouts Meet hardware. Through this program, Google’s partner lab tests the peripherals for quality, reliability, and interoperability. Qualified peripherals will get automatic, over-the-air firmware updates.

We’re constantly adding more great devices to the Hangouts Meet ecosystem. Beginning with ChromeOS version 69, the Logitech MeetUp will be a certified camera and speakerphone. Featuring a 120° field-of-view and integrated audio optimized for huddle room acoustics, the MeetUp is perfect for small video conferencing spaces. Like all certified peripherals, the MeetUp will receive over-the-air firmware updates from the Hangouts Meet Chromebox to ensure it is always up to date and improving over time.

In addition to cameras and speakermics, partners like Lindy and Newnex have joined our ecosystem to bring the highest quality USB 3.0 extenders and hubs to the meeting room. As officially qualified peripherals, these devices help you scale your meetings to spaces of all shapes and sizes.

Learn more about Hangouts Meet hardware here, or find details about the qualification program and certified devices in the Help Center.

Launch Details
Release track:
All features launching to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: Manage settings for Chrome devices for meetings
The Keyword blog: Bring teams together with new G Suite integrations

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Update (July 17, 2018): Please see this post for updated details regarding this launch.

---

Update (July 10, 2018): This launch has been delayed. Please stay tuned to the G Suite Updates blog for more information, as we'll provide an update on the launch and its timing shortly.

---

In 2014, we introduced Material Design, a visual language that helps developers create intuitive and beautiful products. Since then, we’ve steadily updated our G Suite apps to adhere to Material principles. Next week, we’ll bring this same design to Google sign-in screens.

Starting on June 14th, 2018, you may notice that when you sign in to your G Suite account, the screen looks slightly different. Some of the changes will include tweaks to the Google logo, an outline around the text field, and center alignment of all items on the screen. See below for before and after images.



If necessary, please provide your users advance notice of these changes.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release on June 14th, 2018

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

We’re adding new controls to adjust the size and position of shapes, images, text boxes, and more in Google Slides. This builds on our launch from April, when we added guide and ruler features to give you more control over object positions and text alignment. Together these features provide precise control over slides and enable the design of more attractive and effective presentations. The new options allow users to:

• Set exact size by numeric value or percentage scale 
• Adjust object position on a slide 
• Rotate by flipping horizontally or vertically, or setting a precise rotation angle 

	New object size and position controls in Google Slides

You can access the new controls through:

• Format menu > Format options 
• Right click on object > Format options 
• Select object > Format options in the toolbar 

See our Help Center for more information on how to arrange objects in Google Slides.


Launch Details

Release track:
Launching to Rapid Release, with Scheduled Release coming in two weeks

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace: 
Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact: 
All end users

Action: 
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information 
Help Center: Insert and arrange text, shapes, diagrams, and lines


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Your time at work is important—we want to help you effectively manage that time with Calendar. In addition to scheduling and joining meetings, it’s important that you know when to cancel or reschedule meetings with low attendance, so you can take back time. That’s why we’re now indicating to Calendar users when their meetings won’t be attended by anyone else and helping them take action.

Without having to go into an event’s details, or watch your inbox for RSVP responses, you can now see beforehand when everyone else declined the meeting. We’ll show an indication on the event, flagging to you that all guests have declined.



After clicking on one of these events within Calendar, you can take one of the following actions:

• Cancel the meeting: If you’re the event organizer, you’ll be able to delete the event. All other invitees will be able to remove it from their own calendar.
• Reschedule the meeting: Organizers can reschedule the event, either manually or with “Find a Time.” Guests (or organizers in domains without the “Find a time” feature available) can email other guests to suggest rescheduling.
• Dismiss an event: Until the event is moved to a new time, users can dismiss seeing the flagged indication for the meeting.

We hope that this new feature helps you to make the best use of your valuable time.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

On June 19th, 2018, Google Mobile Management will begin rolling out support for Hangouts Meet on iOS. Currently, G Suite users in domains with advanced mobile device management enabled can use the Hangouts Meet iOS app without first installing the device policy profile. Following the launch, these users will be required to install the device policy profile (if they haven’t already) in order to continue using Hangouts Meet on their iOS devices.*

*Users in domains with basic mobile device management enabled won’t be required to install the device policy profile; their iOS devices will automatically become managed when they sign in to Hangouts Meet.

Impacts iOS users without device policy profile only
This only impacts iOS users who don’t already have the device policy profile installed. If your organization currently has advanced MDM enabled, your users would have been required to download the device policy profile in order to access Gmail, Calendar, and other Google apps on their iOS devices.

Notifications to users
Starting on June 19th, iOS users who try to access Hangouts Meet will see a notification prompting them to install a security profile. This notification will only appear for users on Hangouts Meet v16.0 and above; users can upgrade to this version starting on June 4th.


Users on older versions of Hangouts Meet will be able to sign in to the app, but they’ll be unable to perform critical functions (e.g. to view and join meetings). They should upgrade to v16.0 so that they receive the prompt and can install the required device policy profile.

Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release on June 19th, 2018

Editions:
Available to all G Suite editions

Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)

Impact:
All end users

Action:
Change management suggested/FYI

More Information
Help Center: How the device policy profile works


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

Archive and translated versions (coming soon for May issue)

Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

We recently introduced an Early Adopter Program (EAP) for the new Gmail, with new capabilities like Gmail offline and nudging. To prepare you and your organization for the general availability (GA) launch, we’re providing additional details on the rollout schedule below.

New Gmail launching to GA in July 2018
At the moment, the new Gmail is an EAP, and customers can choose to participate (or not) at the domain and organizational unit levels. After the new Gmail launches to GA in July 2018, G Suite admins will have the following options in the Admin console:

• Immediately transition their users to the new Gmail. For a period of time, users will still have the option to opt out (see below for more details).
• Allow their users to opt in to the new Gmail at the time of their choice. For a period of time, users will still have the option to opt out (see below for more details).
• Wait approximately four weeks until their users are allowed to opt in to the new Gmail. For a period of time, users will still have the option to opt out (see below for more details).
• This is the default setting. During this four-week period, users will not have the option to opt in to the new Gmail.

Approximately eight weeks after the GA announcement in July, any users who haven’t yet been transitioned to the new Gmail will be automatically migrated to the new experience. They’ll have the option to opt out of the new Gmail for an additional four weeks.

Opt-out option removed 12 weeks after GA
Approximately 12 weeks after the GA announcement in July, any users who’ve opted out of the new Gmail will be automatically migrated to the new experience, with no option to opt out. Users who’ve already transitioned to the new Gmail will lose the ability to opt out.

Additional features and Admin console settings
Please note that features with dedicated Admin console settings, like Gmail offline and confidential mode (launching at a later date), will respect any current EAP configurations when the new Gmail launches to GA. If your organization doesn’t participate in the EAP, these settings will be OFF by default when the new Gmail launches to GA.

Try the new Gmail in EAP
We’ll provide more details on this transition plan in July, but we encourage you to begin testing the new Gmail and preparing your users now. To get started, see this Help Center article.

More Information
Help Center: What’s new in Gmail



Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates

(Cross-posted from The Keyword)



The average employee uses 36 cloud services at work to collaborate or share files. That’s more apps than hours in a day! With so many apps and services, it’s important that your business chooses modern, open tools that make it easy to work with anyone—be it inside or outside of your organization.

We want to reduce complexity for your teams, which is why we’ve built integrations in G Suite like third-party add-ons in Gmail and Google Docs and better interoperability with Microsoft. Today, we’re announcing new integrations in Hangouts Meet and Calendar to help you have even better meeting experiences regardless of the conference technology you use. We’re also bringing you new ways to collaborate in Hangouts Chat and Sheets.

Collaborate easily with new compatibility in Hangouts Meet

Nothing’s more frustrating than hosting a meeting and having trouble getting people to join because of issues with technology—it can interrupt workflows and slow down productivity. We want to make it easier for businesses to use meeting solutions, like Hangouts Meet, without worrying about compatibility with existing equipment. This is why we’re making Meet compatible with traditional video conferencing systems, like Polycom and Cisco. In partnership with Pexip, teams will be able to join a meeting on Meet from their preferred equipment in the coming weeks. We’re also making it possible for Microsoft Skype for Business users to easily join a meeting on Meet directly from their Skype app.

Spotify has benefited from using Hangouts Meet to collaborate both internally and externally. Says Martin Antonsson, AV Infrastructure Engineer at Spotify, “Interoperability between Hangouts Meet and other video conferencing systems is fundamental to enabling collaboration. Now we can focus on having productive meetings instead of worrying about the technology.”

 Build add-ons in Google Calendar, join meetings in a cinch

A big part of having productive meetings is making sure that the right folks are able to join them. That’s why we’re announcing support for third-party conferencing natively in Google Calendar. Soon conference providers can easily build add-ons to create, view and join a video conference directly from a Calendar event. Users can simply click a link in the Calendar invite to join on web or mobile.



Cisco Webex is building an add-on to help users easily schedule meetings right from Google Calendar without requiring a download or plug-in. Arkadin, GoToMeeting, LogMeIn, Dialpad, RingCentral, Vidyo and Vonage are also building add-ons to help them more easily meet with their customers. These third-party conferencing add-ons will be available in the G Suite Marketplace in the coming months with details to come for developers.

You might have seen that we made it easier to view schedule availability across Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange last year. Building on this, we’re also announcing a way for you to book resources like rooms, equipment and more in Microsoft Exchange. If you use G Suite, you’ll be able to easily view and book resources stored in Exchange and Office 365 in the coming months.

Work with teams outside of your domain in Hangouts Chat

After you get the right people in the room with the right setup, it’s important to be able to share information in real time during your meetings—even with folks who may not be in your company. In the coming months, you’ll be able to include people from outside of your organization in Chat, making it easy to stay aligned with clients, vendors, partners and others, all from one place.

Resuelve—a consumer debt management business based in Mexico—uses guest access in Chat to connect with people outside of their organization, particularly as they look to grow their presence in additional regions. "Hangouts Chat has been crucial to our company's ability to expand into other markets,” says Jordi Adame, Chief Technology Officer of Resuelve. “It’s helped our internal teams be productive and we're looking forward to connecting with people outside of our organization in a similarly efficient way.”

New SAP integrations with Google Sheets

Companies often have critical business data in their SAP systems. In an upcoming SAP release, employees will be able to discover additional insights from their ERP content by importing it directly into Google Sheets. With this new integration, you can skip manually exporting data to CSVs and uploading them to Drive. Instead, export directly to Sheets and analyze data with tools like intelligent pivot tables. You can also skip tedious formatting by recording macros in Sheets, making it easier to streamline business processes and share information across teams right away.



Looking ahead

In the coming months, you’ll be able to join conferences on Hangouts Meet from your existing meeting room hardware, book rooms from Microsoft Exchange in Google Calendar and collaborate with folks outside of your domain in Hangouts Chat. You’ll also start to see integrations with Google Sheets in an upcoming SAP release, too.

Learn more about how your business’ technology can co-exist with G Suite. Visit the Next ‘18 website to register.

From creating team mailing lists to processing support tickets to hosting internal discussions, many organizations use Google Groups to connect and collaborate in the workplace. But as with any communication tool, it’s important that your settings deliver the right balance between sharing and security.

By default, Google Groups are set to private; there have been a small number of instances, however, where customers have accidentally shared sensitive information as a result of misconfigured Google Groups privacy settings. That’s why it’s important to understand how you can tailor the privacy configurations of Google Groups to align with your organization’s policies. Details of how to do this are part of our comprehensive security best practices for G Suite, which we’ve discussed in previous blog posts.

Default protections against accidental misconfigurations
To help prevent data from being accidentally shared, by default Google Groups’ sharing settings are set to best protect privacy:

• Viewing groups: By default, no one outside your domain can view or search groups in your domain.
• Posting to groups: By default, no one outside your domain can post to your groups.
• Joining groups: By default, no one outside your domain can become a group member.
• Creating groups: By default, only those within your domain can create groups.

G Suite admins can adjust each of these default settings individually. They can review and update the sharing permissions for their domains from the Admin console, while end users can review and update Google Groups permissions in group settings. Admins can also manage groups using the Directory API, and group settings can be managed using the Groups Settings API.

Viewing groups: configuring settings at the domain level
Admins can control who can view groups at the domain level, under “access to groups.” There are two options:

• Private, the default setting, means no one outside of your domain can access your groups, and your users and domain admins do not have the ability to create public groups.
• Public on the Internet means users can create public groups, and individuals outside your domain can access content discussed in these groups.

You should carefully consider whether to change the access to groups from Private to Public on the Internet. If you give your users the ability to create public groups, you can always change the domain-level setting back to private. This will prevent anyone outside of your domain from accessing any of your groups, including any groups previously set to public by your users.

Viewing groups: configuring the default view for new groups
Even if you turn on the ability to create public groups, all new groups will be private by default and users will need to proactively change individual group settings to make them public. As an admin, you can change this default setting so that view access for new groups is limited to all members of your domain or a subset of group members.


We recommend you choose the setting that makes the most sense based on how your organization uses Google Groups. Remember, this is the default setting for new groups—group owners can still change settings at the group level (although if admins set “access to groups” to private, users won’t be able to allow anyone on the internet to view the group).

Posting to groups: configuring who can contact group members
By default, external users cannot post to groups. In some instances, however, you may want external individuals to be able to contact a group—for example, when handling incoming sales or support requests. This can be done without making the ability to view topics in a group public.

As an admin, you can allow posts from outside your domain to specific groups within the settings for that individual group (by selecting “Public” under Post). This setting applies regardless of whether group topics are set to public or private.


As an admin, you can also give group owners the ability to authorize external posts via the Admin console setting under “Member & email access.”


Joining groups: configuring group membership
By default, only users in the group’s domain can be group members. Admins, however, can add external members directly to groups, and they can also enable group owners to add external members—for example, if they need to communicate with a vendor organization. Admins can also to add external members regardless of the status of the setting.


Creating groups: configuring who can create new groups
As an admin, you can also decide who can create groups within your organization. By default, anyone in your domain can create groups.


If you allow users in your domain create public Google Groups and give anyone in your domain the ability to create groups, you’re trusting your users to manage their settings and use these groups appropriately. It’s worth carefully considering whether this configuration makes the most sense for your organization.

For more information on securing your Google Groups, visit our Help Center. You may also want to review our security best practices across G Suite.

More Information
Help Center: Google Groups security


Launch release calendar
Launch detail categories
Get these product update alerts by email
Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates