Soon Microsoft’s Skype will be facing serious competition from the search giant, Google.
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Google on Tuesday, Aug. 16, launched Google Duo, pitting it directly against Apple Inc’s FaceTime, which allows video calls only between Apple devices. “You shouldn’t have to worry about whether your call will connect, or if your friend is using the same type of device as you are”, the company writes in a blog post. The company feels that this one-on-one video chatting app will feel more “human” than others now on the market.
Duo features a simple user interface, enabling users to video chat without having to create a separate account; the ability to make calls on slow networks without experiencing choppy video streams; a Knock Knock feature that lets users see live video of who is calling before they pick up; and end-to-end encryption for security and privacy.
Like FaceTime for iPhones, Duo only requires a person’s phone number to connect.
New app aims to make video calling easy; also works in poor network conditions in India.
Video calling apps are a dime a dozen, but Google has at least one unique feature here that’s rather compelling.
The app is focused on simplicity, and allowing users to initiate a video call quickly and effortlessly so long as they have someone else’s phone number.
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Duo is also created to adjust for changing network conditions, so when bandwidth is limited it will reduce the video resolution without the call becoming choppy. According to this feature, as you get any call on your phone, the screen starts showing you the live video from your caller before you answer the call. This feature is available only to the Android users, so if you are an iPhone user, this feature will be not available to you. During the call, users can switch to Wi-Fi from cellular or vice versa to improve the call quality and nothing will happen to the call, it will keep going.
