Normally, a company would be expected to include video chat capabilities in its new messaging app-like Hangouts or Facebook Messenger or (eventually) WhatsApp. Launching two communication apps at the same time seemed strange, but the idea was that Google could pitch Duo as a companion to WhatsApp as well as Allo. It used SMS-based phone number identification instead of a Google account, and it was restricted to one device at a time, following the very non-Googley way that WhatsApp works. Here's a quick recap of the long history of Google communication apps: Google Duo launched in 2016 as a standalone video chat app with a "companion" messaging app called "Google Allo." Google had just failed in its attempt to buy WhatsApp two years earlier (Facebook made the $22 billion acquisition instead), so it fired up its photocopiers for Google Allo, which was a straight-up WhatsApp clone. Google has not clarified which products are being unified, but it should mean that Google Hangouts, Google Meet, Google Chat, Google Messages, Google Duo, and Google Voice will all live under one roof. The move comes after Google unified its communication teams under Google Workspace VP and GM Javier Soltero (the author of Google's blog post) in 2020. Later this year, we’ll rename the Duo app to Google Meet, our single video communications service across Google that is available to everyone at no cost." Google says that "existing video calling features from Duo are here to stay" and that "in the coming weeks, we’re adding all the Google Meet features to the Duo app, so users can easily schedule a video meeting at a time that works for everyone, or continue using video calling to instantly connect with a person or group. While the Google Duo brand is dying, it sounds like the Duo codebase will live on as the basis for the new Google Meet. Google officially confirmed the move on Wednesday, explaining in a blog post that the goal is to create a "single video communications service" and that the Duo brand will go away in favor of Google Meet. Meanwhile, Meet will keep features from Duo including fun filters and effects, the ability to send video messages, and the ability to use Google Assistant to call home devices.The long-rumored Google Duo and Google Meet merger is actually happening. Google’s Support page details the transition of Google Duo to Meet, which will include all the features that Meet users benefit from like 100-person video calls and enhanced video calling with live closed captions and virtual backgrounds. Google Meet is Google’s video conferencing platform that was integrated with Google Calendar and Gmail, and it rose in popularity amidst the spike in demand for conferencing apps during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google Duo was Google’s simple video calling app for smartphones or desktop that would rival with FaceTime when it launched alongside Allo in 2016 and Meet wouldn’t launch until just a few months later in 2017. If a user schedules a new Meet through the desktop website, the meeting will show under a new “Meetings” section of the app that will also list any other scheduled events from the calendar. They also note that blocked users on Duo won’t transfer over to Meet. A new pop-up message shows updated privacy terms, namely the switch from using end-to-end encryption to cloud encryption, which Google says allows for more features like chat and live-caption. You can also “Schedule in Google Calendar” to set up calls for later. The updated app shows that “Duo is getting even better” and the main action button has changed from “New Call” to “New”. Your Duo app will become Meet, with a new name and icon, and more features like background effects 9to5Google has some screenshots showing the start of the transition with the latest version 121665. Last month, Google announced that its two video calling products Duo and Meet would merge together into a single video calling platform called “Google Meet”.Ī small number of users are starting to see this merger take place with the latest version of the Google Duo app on Android.
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