Did the countdown clock start when Google launched two other consumer-focused messaging apps with a mobile focus? Or was it the recently-announced demise of Google+, where Hangouts got its start in 2011 before relaunching as a solo act in 2013? Of course, Google Talk/Gchat hung around until 2016, so there's some precedent for an ending that could come later than anyone expects.

Hangouts has appeared as an afterthought in Google's plans for an Assistant AI-powered future -- with RCS expanding on SMS, Android Messages is bringing texting back, it's almost poetic -- so it's tough to see it going much further, rumor or not. Keeping it around for business cases is the only thing we've heard actual news about for the last couple of years, and the last person to tell us its consumer facing service "isn't going anywhere" works for Facebook now.

Update 12/1/2018 9:20AM: Googler and Hangouts boss Scott Johnson tweeted about the story, calling it shoddy reporting. He claims that no decisions have been made about Hangouts' shutdown time. At the same time, he said existing users will be upgraded to the currently enterprise-focused Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet -- which would probably only be necessary if "Hangouts classic" goes away at some point in the next couple of years. In response, 9to5 claimed a second source had backed up its story.

2/ So while that will result in the eventual shut down of Hangouts classic (as we now call it), it doesn't imply we are ending support for the use case supported by the product: messaging and meetings. — Scott Johnston (@happyinwater) December 1, 2018 4/ But this isn't just true with Google Apps, it is true across the market. Line supports both businesses and consumers. As does Facebook Messenger. Dropbox. Even Teams recently opened to consumers. I could go on. — Scott Johnston (@happyinwater) December 1, 2018 6/ But these are subjective points, and they are my products, so I'm strongly biased. In the end, neither you, nor I will make this judgement. Our users will. Everything else is just talk. /FIN — Scott Johnston (@happyinwater) December 1, 2018

Update 2 12/3/2018 2:34 AM: A Google spokesperson gave Engadget the following statement, saying the company hasn't (publicly) announced when it will close Hangouts, but when it does, you'll be able to use Chat and Meet: