Today I discovered that there is a messaging service on Google Maps and now it will disappear

I’ve been using Google Maps for years and never knew there was an option to message businesses in the app – that is until I saw this post from Search Engine Landwho says he’s leaving.

The feature, called Business Profile Chat, lets you message a business through the Google Maps and Search apps to ask questions, schedule an appointment, or request a quote. If a business has business profile chat enabled, you’ll see a “Chat” option next to the “Call” and “Directions” icons in Maps or Search. Tap it and you can start a conversation.

But now it’s going to the Google graveyard. In a notice posted on your websiteGoogle says it will no longer offer customers the ability to start new conversations on Google Maps and Search on July 15, 2024, and will cut off existing conversations on July 31, 2024. Businesses have until August 30, 2024 to download your conversation history through Google Takeout.

Even if I never knew this feature existed, it seems like it would have been a convenient way to contact a company without calling them. After July 15th, you will have to use commercial messaging services offered by Litter, Whatsappor Facebook Messenger instead of.