In today’s Workspace update blog post, Google has announced the discontinuation of its collaborative Jamboard whiteboarding software, adding another entry to its ongoing list of retired services. Google intends to phase out the Jamboard app by late 2024 and is ushering in the “next phase” of whiteboarding solutions by directing users to third-party applications that integrate with Workspace services such as Google Meet, Drive, and Calendar.
Google is committed to assisting customers in transitioning to alternative whiteboard tools, including FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro. Feedback from Workspace users revealed that these third-party solutions better met their needs due to features like an expansive canvas size, pre-designed templates, voting mechanisms, and more. Consequently, instead of further developing Jamboard, Google has decided to shift its focus towards core collaboration services offered by Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
The Jamboard app’s first phase-out stage is scheduled for October 1st, 2024. On that day, Jamboard will become a read-only application, and users will lose the ability to create new Jamboards or edit existing ones across all platforms. Subsequently, users will have until December 31st, 2024, to back up their Jamboard files. On that date, Google will discontinue access and commence the permanent deletion of files. Google intends to provide straightforward methods for users to retain and migrate their Jam data to FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro, with these resources becoming available well in advance of the app’s final phase-out in late 2024.
It’s worth noting that Google’s $5,000 Jamboard whiteboarding meeting room display will also be discontinued. The Jamboard hardware will cease receiving software updates on September 30th, 2024, and its license subscriptions will expire on the same day. Companies and educational institutions with upcoming renewals may choose to extend their subscriptions until that date on a prorated basis if they wish to delay the transition. The 55-inch Jamboard device will reach its end of life on October 1st, 2024.
For those in need of new whiteboarding hardware for their meeting rooms, Google recommends its Google Meet Series One screens, including the Board 65 and Desk 27. Google will collaborate with educational institutions to facilitate compensation for the retirement of old Jamboard devices and connect them with Figma, Lucid Software, and Miro to aid in a smooth transition. It’s worth noting that Google cannot retire these outside solutions since it does not own them.