By Merrie Green
After introducing Duo at the I/O Conference in May, Google has finally released its free and simple 1-to-1 video calling app on both Android and iOS.
“Video calling is the next best thing to being with someone in person, but too often it can be a frustrating or complicated experience. 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. It’s no wonder that nearly half of us never make video calls on mobile… Duo takes the complexity out of video calling, so that you can be together in the moment wherever you are,” the company wrote on its official blog.
The app’s interface is quite simple. All you need to do it download the app and allow it to access your phone’s contact list. There is no need to create a separate account.
As there are many apps offering video calling, Google’s is trying to gain a competitive edge by concentrating on speed, reliability and security. “We’ve built Duo to be fast and reliable, so that video calls connect quickly and work well even on slower networks,” says the company. Indeed, depending on the speed of the connection, the app adjusts the call quality, reducing the resolution when the bandwidth is limited. It also smoothly switches between wifi and mobile data without dropping the call. All calls in the app are automatically and fully encrypted.
Furthermore, the app has one interesting feature – Knock Knock. It lets you see live video of your caller before you answer. “Knock Knock makes video calling more spontaneous and welcoming, helping you connect with the person before you even pick up,” says Google.
The app is rolling out worldwide over the next few days.
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