Google Calendar adds new RSVP feature to attend meetings virtually

 

The second wave isn't quite over yet, but many of us are being forced to work and study from home due to lockdowns and movement restrictions. For the most part, this implies that meetings, activities, and classes that were once held in person are now held remotely.

However, as more individuals are vaccinated, a return to some kind of normalcy is beginning to emerge. Offices and other institutions are gradually opening in limited capacities, but most organizations have settled for a hybrid approach in which the majority of employees continue to work from home.

To help such workplaces find a suitable medium, Google has made some minor improvements to Calendar invites. The RSVP option in Google Calendar invites has now been extended to virtual meetings. Users of Google Workspace will be able to specify whether they plan to attend a meeting in person or virtually using the new feature.

“Both the organizer and guests will be able to see how attendees are planning to attend the meeting in the event detail. This will help meeting attendees know what to expect when joining a meeting, and prepare accordingly,” Google said in a blog post.

It's a minor update that won't significantly alter Google Calendar's functionality, but given the current situation, this might be some time before everyone is ready to return to work. Knowing which attendees are virtual will make it much easier for organizers to prepare meetings accordingly.

According to Google, the new RSVP feature will be available to all Workspace and G Suite Basic customers in the coming weeks, starting from tomorrow. The feature will eventually make its way to Gmail calendar invites, but it may take some time.