FaceTime, get ready for competition from a fellow technology behemoth.
Alphabet, parent company of Google (ticker: GOOGL, GOOG), launched Google Duo, a 1-to-1 video calling app for Android and iOS consumers. All it requires is your phone number — no separate account.
The company says the service, which debuted Monday, will function even on slower networks, will adapt to changing network conditions and go between Wi-Fi and cellular data. This latter feature could, of course, prove problematic for data usage purposes.
Google Duo will complete with the FaceTime service offered by Apple (AAPL).
What could really be problematic, though, is Duo’s “Knock Knock” feature, which gives you access to live footage of the person calling you so you can see what they’re doing. What Alphabet calls “spontaneous and welcoming” could be uninviting and shocking (i.e. Don’t call someone unless you’re looking presentable and otherwise unoccupied).
Still, The Verge notes the feature performed well, with the video call already going right when you swipe to receive it. Knock Knock is only available to those in your phone contacts, and you can always disable it.
The Verge’s Dieter Bohn wrote highly of the new app. ” … I can’t help but respect the clarity of purpose behind the creation of Duo,” he says. “It’s aggressively, obsessively focused on making the best possible mobile experience for video chat, at the expense of all else.”
Google‘s communications division vice president, Nick Fox, tells The Verge he isn’t worried about its slew of communication apps (like Duo, new artificial intelligence-enhanced text app Allo and Hangouts) as they each serve different purposes.
Alphabet‘s stock hasn’t moved much on the year, only ticking up about 2.4 percent. This will be an important to feature to watch, especially if Google’s past attempts at competition are any indication (i.e. the afterthought social network Google Plus).
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Google Duo Will Compete with FaceTime (GOOG GOOGL) originally appeared on usnews.com
