Email, Messaging, & Video Calls Video Calls 343 343 people found this article helpful The Google Duo Video Chat App Google Duo aims to simplify the video chat experience by Nadeem Unuth Freelance Contributor Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. our editorial process LinkedIn Nadeem Unuth Updated on March 27, 2020 reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Lifewire Tech Review Board Member Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. our review board Article reviewed on Oct 04, 2020 Michael Barton Heine Jr Video Calls Skype Facetime Tweet Share Email Google Duo is a free video chat app that works with iOS and Android devices, unlike its competitor FaceTime, which works only for iOS devices. It can also be used with the Google Chrome browser on desktop and laptop computers. This information applies to Google Duo on iOS devices, such as iPhones and iPads, as well as Android devices and the Chrome desktop. Google Duo Features Google Duo aims to simplify the video chat experience with an easy-to-use interface, one-to-one video messaging, and an array of helpful features. Holds 12 in a Group Video Call As of March 2020, you can include up to 12 participants in a Duo video call. That helps both families and those working in small business situations connect easily. Simple to Use No account or subscription is necessary. Sign up with your phone number and you'll be able to reach the people in your phone's Contacts list. Begin a video call with a single tap. Fast, Reliable, and Safe Google Duo was designed for fast and reliable video calling. Call quality adjusts no matter what's happening on your network. Your call stays connected, even when bandwidth is limited. When you're on the go, Duo seamlessly switches between cellular data and Wi-Fi without dropping your call, maximizing the call strength and bandwidth. Start a call at your house and continue without interruption as you leave and go about your day. Google Duo features end-to-end encryption, so your calls are safe. Google recommends connecting to Wi-Fi before making a Google Duo call. Using Wi-Fi saves data usage and may provide a better video connection. If you can't access Wi-Fi, turn on data. Knock Knock Google Duo offers a unique feature called Knock Knock, which lets you see live video of your caller before you answer. This may give you an idea of what the caller wants so you can decide if you feel like chatting. The first time you make a call with Google Duo, it will say, "Smile! Knock Knock is on," alerting you to the fact that the person you're calling will see you appear on their screen while the phone is ringing. High-Definition Video Quality Google Duo calls stream at 720p high-definition video quality, compressed for low-bandwidth phones using a mix of open-source and proprietary standards, including WebRTC. Group Calling Among some recently added features, Google Duo has group calling, allowing up to eight people to participate in a group call. Like its one-on-one calls, group calls feature end-to-end encryption. Video Messages Another relatively new feature, video messages let you record a quick hello when you don't have time to call or when the person you're calling can't pick up. Personalize video messages with text and emojis, or draw on your message with a brush tool. Learn more about leaving and checking messages with Google duo using an iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Google's Communications History Google has offered a shifting and sometimes confusing mix of telecommunications products for consumers. Its portfolio has evolved along with Alphabet, its parent company. Google Talk Google Talk, also known as Google Chat, was primarily a text-based messaging tool that eventually supported some video capability. It was discontinued in 2015 Google+ Messenger Google+ Messenger was a chat tool for Google+ users. It eventually merged into Hangouts. Google Allo Google Allo was an individual and group text messaging tool that was discontinued as of March 2019. Google Hangouts Google Hangouts was originally a video service for Google+. It then became the default unified chat and video app for all Google customers. Now it's focused on enterprise customers with a split between Hangouts Meet (video) and Hangouts Chat (text). Google Voice Google Voice is a consumer VoIP platform, similar to Skype, which launched as a standalone app. Its core technology merged into Hangouts. Google Duo Is Worth a Try Since Google has a history of building and discarding messaging apps, some fear that Google Duo won't last. It has competition in the video-chat arena, such as FaceTime, Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, and its cousin Hangouts. Still, Google Duo is a solid, easy-to-use, and continuously improving video chat app that has some unique and fun features. If you and your friends and family are entrenched in the Google communications ecosystem, you'll find Duo to be fast, convenient, secure, and simple. Download for: IOS Android To use it on a desktop, go to: duo.google.com.