Google hopes to make video calling magical with Duo

Not content with simply launch one cross-platform messaging app, Google continued its emphasis on communication today at Google I/O 2016 with the introduction of Duo, a new video calling app that acts as a companion to the Allo chat application. On iOS specifically, Duo will offer an alternative to FaceTime with some unique features.

With Duo, you can see a video feed of the person who's calling you before you pick up, letting you see if it's someone you know or not. When you swipe to answer, the call is connected right away, and the app is meant to work well even with low connection speeds. The interface will also fade away as you talk, letting you focus on your call.

On the technical side, Duo uses QUIC for fast connections. Built by the team behind WebRTC, Duo monitors video quality every second, adjusting seamlessly when needed. The app will also switches easily between Wi-Fi and cellular connections.

Duo, along with Allo, will be available later this summer. If you're interested in following along with all of the announcements coming out of Google's annual developer conference, be sure to check out all of the Google I/O 2016 coverage at our sister site, Android Central.