Google just announced availability of this simple to use messaging app, ‘Duo’, that only works on smartphones. The app received much fanfare when Google unveiled it at their I/O developer conference earlier this year & was thought to be the search giant’s foray into easy to use casual video calling, similar to Apple’s FaceTime or Microsoft’s Skype app.
In fact, Duo goes beyond FaceTime & Skype, not to mention Google’s own earlier offering, Hangout, in the ease-of-use department, by not requiring users to have a Google account, & by simplifying the whole call & response process with a single tap call button that takes you straight to a video call. The app uses your phone’s number to verify you in a similar manner as WhatsApp & as Facebook is now doing with Messenger.
Other important features of the app are: ‘Knock Knock’, where you can see the ‘live’ video of the person who’s calling you before accepting a call. Also, meanwhile, if you leave an area with Wi Fi coverage you seamlessly get switched over to carrier data, & back again without missing a beat. Of course your video quality will vary depending on network type, but overall the quality is quite good.
You should note that only video calls between 2 people are allowed & that the calls are encrypted end-to-end. The fact that you only need a person’s phone number to make a video call really simplifies the process of calling someone, but it will be tough to change people’s established habits, especially those already using Skype or FaceTime.
1 way Google has to overcome this switching dilemma is by bundling Duo with Android, as it has already done with Gmail, Hangouts & a few more standard apps. With iOS, Apple’s already doing just that with FaceTime, & so Google will most likely take the same tack with Android, hoping that it will push iOS users to install their cross-platform app when Duo strikes critical mass amongst the Android user base.
Google Duo is available for free.
Click here to download Duo on your Android device
Click here to download Duo on your iOS device.
- This post is merely a startup profile based on publicly available information & not a review. -
Image Credit: Google
