Google pulls back New Gmail Chat Features

New chat design brought video, voice and group chat icons in IM window but was pulled back due to issues

Yesterday, Google had rolled out a spruced up Gmail chat interface that brought along Video Chat, Voice Chat and Group Chat shortcuts in Instant Message window. Later, Google discovered issues with new chat design that impacted small number of Google Apps users and hence pulled back the new chat interface. The video, voice and group chat settings already existed but in the menu at the bottom of each chat window.

On the official Gmail Blog, Josh Teague, User Experience Designer at Google, noted that new chat design in Gmail had caused issues with Google Apps users. Hence the chat design update has been pulled back from Gmail and would be rolled out again next week or so after fixing it.

Just ensure that you've downloaded and installed the Voice and Video chat plugin from Google. Stay tuned to your Gmail Inboxes as the new chat design can drop in any time.