Google‘s fondness for creating and subsequently killing products has become a running joke in the tech industry. The latest victim of the tech giant’s ever-changing priorities is the VPN by Google One service, a virtual private network offering that was introduced less than four years ago.
According to a vague customer email obtained by Android Authority, Google is pulling the plug on its VPN service later this year. The email provides no specific timeline for the shutdown, leaving users in limbo about when they’ll need to find an alternative solution for secure internet browsing.
The VPN by Google One service was launched in October 2020, providing subscribers with a convenient way to encrypt their internet traffic and protect their online privacy. Subscription prices started at $1.99 per month, and the service was available across various platforms, including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.
In a statement to 9to5Google, the company attributed the decision to discontinue the service to low user adoption, stating that “people simply weren’t using it.” This explanation may ring true, considering that Google offers not one but two other VPN services – one through Google Fi and another built into Pixel devices starting with the Pixel 7 series.
The impending shutdown of the VPN by Google One service comes just weeks after the Google One cloud storage service celebrated a significant milestone, surpassing 100 million subscribers. In an ironic twist, Google cited a need to “focus on providing the most in-demand features and benefits” as the rationale for axing the VPN offering, potentially hinting at the company’s increased emphasis on integrating its Gemini AI technology into Google One.
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