Google has officially announced the availability of its video conferencing platform, Google Meet, within the Apple CarPlay system. This plugin is aimed primarily at professionals who are often on the move, allowing them to stay connected and participate in important discussions – they say on the official blog, announcing this “revolution”.
Integration of Meet into the system infotainmenta in-vehicle gives users direct access to the app through the car’s dashboard. The system is designed to offer an easy transition from the iOS mobile device to the vehicle interface, where users can see their upcoming meeting schedule and join them with a single touch of the screen.
Safety in mind
The main priority during the development of this version was the safety of drivers, for whom Google Meet on CarPlay will therefore be limited exclusively to audio communication, which does not affect safety while driving the vehicle. When joining a meeting, the user’s camera is automatically turned off, and it is not possible to see the video content of other participants on the car screen. Therefore, users have access only to the sounds coming from the speakers and the microphone with which they can connect to the “call”.
Due to the specifics of the driving environment, the available features are reduced compared to the mobile or desktop version. There are basic controls such as on and off, while advanced options such as chat, polls or raising your hand are not supported – all to avoid distracting the driver from the road. Also, it is not possible to create new meetings through the CarPlay system, and in case the user connecting from the car is also the host of the meeting, the system does not allow him to accept or reject new participants while driving the vehicle.
The new feature is available to all Google Workspace users, subscribers to the Workspace Individual plan, as well as users with personal Google accounts. While the Apple CarPlay version is already live, Google has confirmed that Android Auto users can also expect its own version of the Meet app in the near future.