Google launches free video calling app for iOS and Android - Duo

The tech giant has gone out and done it again. On Tuesday, Google launched a free, new video calling application called Duo. While it is quite similar to Apple’s FaceTime, it comes with a few additions here and there that make it just a wee bit different.

First and foremost, Google has made one-on-one call the focus of the application, which is why Duo does not have a group-call function. Another major different between Duo and FaceTime is the fact that unlike FaceTime, Duo allows users to make calls between iOS and Android devices.  Other advantageous aspects of Duo are its UI and the quality of calls. Now, if that’s not enough to sway you, we don’t know what is.

One of the many bells and whistles Google added to Duo is the ability to show the receiver who’s calling. This gives the receiver a visual heads up before they respond to a call. When it is launched, Duo opens with a split-screen view of what’s visible from your front-facing camera. This way the caller can also prepare themselves before initiating a call. This feature is interesting, and also oddly unsettling, because it allows the receiver of the call to get a sneak peek of you, regardless of whether they decide to answer the call or not. The feature is called “Knock Knock” and is like a sort or digital peephole.

Experts like SmartIO says that ,another differentiating factor between FaceTime and Duo is the ringing time. Duo rings the device for almost a minute before registering a call as a missed call. FaceTime, on the other hand, rings for half that time.

Duo also shrinks the sefie-view of the call and puts it at the bottom of the screen so that you spend less time staring at yourself during a call, instead focus on the person at the other end. Not a great thing for self-conscious or vain people, but it helps push the objective of enhancing person to person communication. Another nifty addition to Duo is how it makes you unavailable to anyone else trying to call you when you’re in call. Instead, it sends the other caller a message saying you’re unavailable.

Duo hasn’t been rolled out yet, but you can pre-register for it from the Play Store, the same place you stock your games and content transfer apps inventory from. When you pre-register for Duo, you basically sign up to receive the app on your device as soon as Google rolls it out.