Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Google Launches Duo App for Video Calls | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Jeddah-Google has decided that it’s time to provide its customers with better communication means. Therefore, it has launched Duo Program for Android and iOS systems, which will offer its users the opportunity to communicate via free video calls through telecommunication networks of wifi services.

The new video call service called Duo will take on other apps like FaceTime and Facebook Messenger.

In an attempt to differentiate the service, users of Duo will be able to use a feature called “Knock Knock” to see the person on the other end before deciding whether to accept a call. The new service also offers another feature, which is calls’ encryption.

Duo users can connect to anyone with a mobile phone number, rather than requiring a Google account. As such, it is intended to be more simple and reliable. It will also make sure that it works well on slower connections, by using Google technology to compress video streams.

Interestingly, the giant company has decided to separate its new service from all its other programs; the Duo does not require the use of a Gmail.

For video calls on the go, Duo will switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping your call and bothering the user.

The company revealed its new app during Google I/O conference in May, and announced that it would be launching the video app as well as a text messaging app dubbed Allo. Google said the app would be live worldwide in the next few days.