Sources suggest that Google will no longer pre-install Hangouts as part of the core apps that come on Android phones. Instead, Google Duo, their video chat app, will take its place. Hangouts will still be available on the Play Store, but you’ll have to download it.

This news comes from an alleged email that was sent to Google Mobile Services partners on the 5th of October. Strangely, Google went with Duo instead of Allo as their replacement for Hangouts. The latter seems to be a more suitable SMS replacement app but perhaps that would run Google into legal trouble with regulatory bodies looking to stem anti-competitive behaviour.