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.
Reader comments
Google's Duo will offer an interesting alternative to FaceTime on iOS
Nope..for crossplatform I use Line
Allo and Duo won't replace imessage or facetime
At least for me
Sent from the iMore App
Sorry but no video calling service is better than FaceTime on iOS, maybe Google Hangouts comes close but whether these new chat and messaging duo Google has announced for iOS and Android takes off only time will tell.
Sent from the iMore App
Google probably won't charge for the video calls, though. That's a big difference between a third party solution like Line, and something by Google, who make money other ways.
Apple has done nothing with facetime. Its still just a Video calling but where is the conference video calls? Think about it they have done nothing since its come out. Nothing at all.
This also doesn't have conference calls.
This would be great, for us in countries with low connections as well as few iOS users and mostly with less knowledge of all Apple Eco System
As usual awesome Google apps which normally are far superior than
Apple apps. On top of that cross platform which seals the deal unless for Apple fans who use everything Apple even if sub par.