'Google Calendar' Update For Android Helps Users Find A Common Time For A Meeting

Smartphones have become an indispensable part of daily productivity, especially for users who are frequently on the go and do not have easy access to their desktops. And because of smartphone apps such as Google Calendar, it's much easier to keep track of one's schedule, from meetings to deadlines to personal tasks. The latest update for Google Calendar now makes it easier for co-workers to set a meeting by determining the common available time for each use.

The update has added the feature called "Find a Time," which automates the process of finding a common time for a meeting or a chat by looking through the shared calendars of each user. As more and more workplaces use Google Calendar and similar apps for collaborative work, this feature is a good addition. According to a report in Fortune, people at work tend to spend a lot of time not just attending meetings, but also setting or scheduling meetings with co-workers. There can be a lot of e-mails exchanged on finding a common time which can translate to productive time lost.

The "Find a Time" feature when used will go through shared calendars on Google Apps for Work and suggest schedule options based on what it sees as openings. The host or the organizer of the meeting still has the final say on which option he or she will suggest.

The official Gmail blog shows how this feature works. The host needs to create an event first, and then select the attendees through their email addresses. Once they are identified, the host can click on "Find a Time" to determine schedule options. After choosing the schedule, the app will then send invites to the identified attendees and place the event on the host's calendar.

Currently, the feature is only available for Google for Work and Edu users, and only for Android. According to Google, they are still working on the update for iOS but did not say when it will be available.