The reign of Google Currents is coming to an end as the app makes way for a new replacement.
Google has announced that it is shutting down Currents, its work-focused replacement for Google+. But what does that mean for Google Currents users? Let's find out.
Google Is Shutting Down Currents
After almost three years, Google is shutting down Currents. Google made the announcement in a post on the Google Workspace Updates, stating that it will “wind down” the platform.
Launched in April 2019, Currents (what is Google Currents?) is a G Suite app that allows people within an organization to engage and interact, including leaders and employees.
At the time, it replaced Google+ for G Suite, bringing a fresh look and feel, as well as a new set of features. Google Currents will close down in 2023, and users will be migrated to Google's newer platform, Spaces.
Google Is Replacing Currents With Spaces
Spaces will be taking over from Currents. Spaces is a Google Workspace product that was launched in January 2021.
It evolved from the Rooms experience in Google Chat, into a dedicated, shared “space” for teamwork and collaboration, and is currently available to all Google Workspace customers today.
In the announcement, Google notes that customers have expressed how seamlessly Spaces works with Google Workspace products, which is why it is moving customers over.
Since launching Spaces, many customers have told us that they appreciate the tight integration with Google Workspace products, including Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and Meet, and the seamless collaboration experience.
Google will give organizations using Currents the option to opt into data migration so that they can bring their content and users over to Spaces as Currents shuts down.
Google hasn't revealed the timeline for this, but will do so in the coming months, and will also share information to guide organizations in their transition to Spaces.
In the meantime, Google will continue to develop and improve Spaces to help you engage and interact more effectively.
Spaces Is Google's Solution for Hybrid Work
Organizations are increasingly adopting products that make virtual work easier.
Moving Currents communities over to Spaces makes that possible—it creates a more cohesive working environment that is more suited for hybrid work and is a better reflection of today's working world.