Get All Access for $5/mo

Is Google Duo The Answer To Facetime? Google has finally entered the video calling app line – and it's impressed everyone reviewing the app so far with its classic simplicity.

By Rustam Singh

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur India

Google has finally entered the video calling app line – and it's impressed everyone reviewing the app so far with its classic simplicity. Google Duo works on iOS as well as Android and offers unlimited free video calling to anyone else using the same app on their device. Sure, this may sound like atleast a dozen apps that you may already have installed – but is it really? Here's a complete review:

Key features

Essentially, the app offers you the ability to video call someone in your contact list with just one tap. Actually, that's literally all it offers. The design follows the same format as WhatsApp, which means you don't have to know anyone's secret code or email or send them a spam email to include them – if they've installed the app they would instantly show up in the list.

It also offers the ability to intelligently switch from WiFi to cellar data so you can continue a call when you enter your home as well as when you leave it. When the bandwidth is low, it will reduce the video resolution to keep things moving.

The most fundamental difference is the "knock-knock" feature. This is like a virtual key-hole, which allows you to see the other person's video before you actually answer the call. Thus, you can prepare yourself as you seem fit essentially before picking up the call.

What's missing?

Google fails to answer why anyone would want yet another video calling app to their already cluttered smartphone. Sure, Duo is cross platform and much better than Skype because it doesn't require you to know someone's email ID to add them, but then again so do hundreds of other apps.

Relying solely on phone numbers to talk to each other can be privacy risk. Middle men messengers like Skype at least offer you the ability to keep your phone number hidden because they use a Skype ID or email to register. Here, the target audience is only known people, who already have your phone number.

Should you install it?

There's no reason not to install this app! Sure, it doesn't offer literally anything new that hasn't been invented already, but it has the potential for growth – just like WhatsApp. Maybe if everyone gets on
the platform, it would be significantly better and newer features would be introduced. Thankfully
the working interface isn't cluttered and full of spam like Snapchat. End to end encryption makes you feels secure of the communications as well. Go ahead and give it a shot. Let's hope this doesn't end up as another failure by Google trying to clone an existing popular service, such as Google + did.

(This article first appeared in the Indian edition of Entrepreneur magazine (September 2016 Issue)

Rustam Singh

Sub-Editor- Entrepreneur.com

Tech reporter.

Contact me if you have a truly unique technology related startup looking for a review and coverage, especially a crowd-funded project looking to launch and coverage.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

Business Solutions

Still Paying for Adobe Acrobat? Try This Instead.

Everything you need in a PDF editor—minus the subscription.

Data & Recovery

Say Hello to the Secure Cloud Storage Alternative Entrepreneurs Need

Secure, scalable, and cost-effective: Internxt is the smarter choice for cloud storage.