Google Meet video conferencing is now free for anybody - Does require a Google account... and is it true end-to-end-encryption?

Google is opening up its Google Meet videoconferencing service to anybody who wants to use it, instead of just offering it to enterprise and education customers via G Suite. The company says anybody with a Google account will now be able to create free meetings of up to 100 people that can last any amount of time — though after September 30th it may restrict meeting length to 60 minutes.

So most big IT companies are offering something "free" during the pandemic, mainly to try hook/lure users into their other services. We'll have to hear though whether Google's offering is also as latency free and performing as well as Zoom, and whether Google has actually got true E2EE working for 100 people group videos. And of course in Google's case (like Microsoft) will the product still be here in two years time....

As a first option I'd still recommend no strings attached Jitsi Meet (with passwords set) or self-hosting it. Zoom, with passwords, is a next best bet also not requiring registration of an account for participants.

See Google Meet video conferencing is now free for anybody

#technology #workfromhome #videoconferencing

Can it stem Zoom’s meteoric growth?

source https://gadgeteer.co.za/google-meet-video-conferencing-now-free-anybody-does-require-google-account-and-it-true-end-end