Google ended the original Business Profile chat and call history features on July 31, 2024. Customers can still find businesses on Google Search and Maps. Eligible Business Profiles in select regions can offer a separate contact option through SMS or WhatsApp. See Google’s shutdown notice and the setup instructions for eligible businesses.
How the original Google Maps messaging feature worked
In November 2018, Google announced that it was bringing conversations with local businesses into the Google Maps app. Customers could ask participating businesses about hours, services or appointments and find their messages in the app’s menu. The image below shows the interface from that rollout.
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