Google is discontinuing its Jamboard whiteboarding app and winding down support for the $5,000 Jamboard device. The company announced the decision in a Workspace post, saying that it is based on feedback from customers who prefer the advanced features offered by third-party whiteboarding tools like FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro.
Google says that it will focus its efforts on core content collaboration across Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The company will also work more closely with its third-party partners to integrate their whiteboarding tools into Workspace. This will give users more choices and flexibility when choosing a whiteboarding tool for their needs.
Google has promised to provide a “retention and migration path” so that users don’t lose any collaborative work they’ve created within an organization. The company will also offer support to help users transition to other whiteboarding tools.
The Jamboard app will be wound down sometime in late 2024, and the Jamboard device will stop receiving auto-updates on September 30, 2024. Users who are currently using the Jamboard app or device are encouraged to start planning their transition to other whiteboarding tools as soon as possible.
Here are some of the key benefits of using third-party whiteboarding tools like FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro:
- Advanced features: These tools offer a variety of advanced features that are not available in Jamboard, such as infinite canvas size, use case templates, voting, and more.
- Integration with other tools: These tools integrate with a variety of other tools, such as Slack, Jira, and Confluence, making it easy to collaborate on projects and share work.
- Flexibility: These tools offer a variety of pricing options and features, so users can choose the option that best meets their needs.
If you are currently using Jamboard, I encourage you to explore your options and start planning your transition to another whiteboarding tool as soon as possible. There are a number of great third-party whiteboarding tools available, and Google is committed to helping you make the transition as smooth as possible.
