Forget the filters and group chats: Duo does one-to-one video calling with pared-back brilliance. That feature is called “Knock Knock” and lets you get a bit of insight into what the situation might be like – is there a conference room full of people on the other end while you’re in a towel?
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After we saw a sneak peak of Duo earlier this year, Google’s straightforward, cross-platform video calling app is now ready for the masses.
Right now the App page on Google Play says you have pre-register with Google and you will be notified about the availability later while iPhone and iPad users can download it from iTunes here.
Duo’s only unique feature is called “Knock Knock” which allows the person receiving the call a preview of the caller before answering the call “giving you a sense of what they’re up to and why they want to chat”, reads the release, “Knock Knock makes video calling more spontaneous and welcoming, helping you connect with the person before you even pick up”. Like Facetime, you use your phone contacts list to video call people – all that’s required is a phone number.
The application, which is being rolled out worldwide over the next few days, will compete with Microsoft’s Skype and Apple’s FaceTime. Google, which has championed encryption despite concerns that encryption technologies could be used for criminal or terrorist activity, has said that all calls on Duo will be encrypted end-to-end.
While Duo is available for both Apple and Android devices, it does not allow users to communicate with desktop users – another factor differentiating it from Facebook Messenger and iMessage.
Duo could be best seen as a no-frills FaceTime competitor that worked with Android devices instead of just Apple products. Meanwhile, Google’s Hangouts, another video and messaging app, is intended for enterprise users.
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For video calls on the go, Duo can switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping the call.
