12/26/2023 0 Comments Google duoThere’s not much setup involved: the service is phone number based so you can call anyone in your phonebook who has the app. Google hasn’t made a decision yet on preloading Duo on Android phones, as is the case with Hangouts. It also worked on the iOS 10 beta.ĭuo is a mobile-only service, at least for now, so what you cannot do is call a friend or colleague from or to a desktop PC or laptop, as is possible on Skype and FaceTime.īoth parties must have the Duo app, which you can grab for free from the App Store for the iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android. The app is compatible with the Jelly Bean version of Android (or later) and with iOS 9 on the iPhone. Instead it’s all about letting you make or receive a video call from your Android or iOS phone with the added ability to make such calls across the rival platforms.ĭuring my tests, I was able to successfully be part of calls made from my iPhone to Android phones and vice versa. adults never make a video call on mobile, based on a recent company survey of online users 18 and older.ĭuo is indeed simple to use but it’s also bare-boned-for example, it is not tied to an instant messenger app in which you can also text. According to Google, however, 46% of U.S. Of course, since so many of us already typically rely on one video calling service or another, I’m not sure how many folks will give Duo a try, especially since it isn’t preloaded. The mobile app will be available globally in 78 languages, Google says. Heck, Google even has its own Hangouts application.īut video calling has become a table stakes kind of feature and what Google is promising when the company starts rolling out Duo to the app stores on Tuesday morning is speed, simplicity, security and the ability to work across all sorts of network connections. Oh not Duo specifically, but things just like it: popular video calling apps such as Apple’s FaceTime or Microsoft’s Skype, or the see and be-seen calling capabilities built into Facebook Messenger or Snapchat. NEW YORK-When you get right down to it, you’ve seen Google Duo before. Messenger has begun testing end-to-end user privacy, but hasn't rolled it out en masse.Watch Video: Knock knock, Google Duo is here (As I mentioned before, Hangouts doesn't have that and Skype isn't secure either. Plus, its end-to-end encryption means your conversations are protected from prying eyes. This singular functionality frees you from having to sign in another account, make sure your buddy has the same service or take time to navigate through a busy interface. Google also believes that when a person decides to video-call a friend, one rarely wants to pivot to messaging or group chatting anyway.īecause Duo offers just the bare bones, it can provide a solid, no-muss-no-fuss video calling service. Plus, with Messenger, you don't need a Facebook account (a phone number will suffice).īut Google didn't create Duo to be an all-in-one communication platform to do so would make it hairier to use. For example, they support messaging and you can start video calls with multiple people. And the best difference between it and Hangouts? It uses end-to-end encryption, so your data can't be viewed from third parties or even Google itself.Īll three of these competing apps do much more than simply one-to-one video calls. Other than downloading the app, you won't have to force anyone to log into their Google accounts or sign up for a new service. Unlike Hangouts, it reaches people through their phone numbers, not their Gmail. Whereas Hangouts can be used on desktops, supports messaging and group chats, and has multiway video for collaboration (and its interface reflects these extra features), Duo does one thing and one thing only: video calls on your phone or tablet. But according to Google, Duo is supposed to be way more specialized. Lynn La/CNET It's different than Hangouts (no, really)Īt this point you might be wondering what makes Duo different than Google's other video-calling service, Hangouts, and you're not alone if you think the company has one too many communication tools. During a call, you'll see only a handful of features (right). Before a call you'll see icons to start video and your recent contacts (left).
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