On May 7, 2013, Google replaced the chat feature within Google Drive with a more capable system based on the Google Chat service that is normally embedded within Gmail. Since Ryerson has disabled the Google Chat service (including Google Talk and Google Voice) for privacy reasons, the change means that chat is no longer available within Google Docs and Presentations. The old chat system is still available in Google Spreadsheets but it will also stop working when Google upgrades it.
At this time we do not plan on enabling Google Chat until Google makes it possible for Ryerson to make privacy the default setting in Chat. We have submitted another request to Google that they allow us to make privacy the default. More information on why Google Chat was disabled at Ryerson is available at:
http://ryerson.ca/google/whygoogle.html#chat_voice
Google’s announcement regarding the changes to the chat feature within Google Drive is available at:
http://googleappsupdates.blogspot.ca/2013/05/scheduled-release-new-chat-experience.html
Please accept our apologies for the inconveniences this change will cause.
-Computing and Communication Services