The app, which is called Duo, is Google’s challenge to other popular video calling options, such as Apple’s FaceTime, Skype by Microsoft and Facebook Messenger.
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“The chances of you having your close friends and family’s phone number is much higher than having a specific account, so using the phone number makes it easier”. Google calls this “more like an invitation rather than an interruption” and “spontaneous and welcoming”.
One of the cool features of Duo is called Knock Knock that lets you see video from the caller before answering, which might come in handy in case you want to avoid certain calls. Simply having a phone number will allow the user to video call individuals in their contact list who have the app. Contacts who don’t have the app can be invited via a text message with a link to download Google Duo.
Also setting it apart from other apps is a feature Google is calling “Knock Knock”, which shows the call’s receiver a live video of the incoming caller. Available for both Android and iOS devices, the “1-to-1 video calling app” promises to make video calling simple.
Duo app takes care of privacy and security features as all Duo calls are end-to-end encrypted.
Will Duo be a FaceTime killer?
It is the first of two new mobile apps that Google, owned by Alphabet Inc., has planned for this summer.
The company said it designed the app, in part, to get rid of the frustration of dropped video calls.
When in a video call, you get numerous features you’d expect from a service like FaceTime, including mute, switching between the rear and front-facing camera, and ending the call. The app is being rolled out in a phased manner, but at the time of filing this story it isn’t available in India.
Well, the Mountain View, the California-based company has officially announced in a blog post that Duo has now started rolling out on Android and iOS in few regions with the “next few days” spreading the app “worldwide”.
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It runs on Wi-Fi and cellular networks, automatically switching between different types and speeds of connection and adjusting video quality.
