Meanwhile, a third Google arm is working a system for the rich communications services (RCS) standard that is currently under development from the telecoms industry body, GSMA, which is destined to replace SMS and MMS messaging services. Google sees Hangouts as part of its enterprise and productivity solution, integrating with calendar and email and employed by Google Apps users. While the distinction might be lost on consumers and users of Google’s plethora of communications apps, many of which seem to do the same thing, Duo and the yet to be released text messaging app Allo, are part of the company’s mobile-consumer orientated push. If Duo becomes one of the required apps from Google, it could displace the competition as the default video calling app on Android smartphones, which may be enough to convince iPhone users to install it. But Microsoft’s recent moves with certain smartphone manufacturers, including the world’s biggest Android device manufacturer, Samsung, has seen a handful of its apps including Skype pre-loaded on many Android smartphones. Hangouts is one of the 11 apps that Google insists come pre-installed on every Android smartphone or tablet that has access to the Play Store. A video calling app, just like any other messaging or social media app, is only as good as the number of friends and contacts who use it.ĭuo’s success will likely be linked with how many Android smartphones come with it pre-installed. Whether users will be tempted away from the likes of Facebook Messenger, FaceTime and Google’s own Hangouts in any serious number remains to be seen. Facebook Messenger also has voice and video calling.įulay said: “The chances of you having your close friends and family’s phone number is much higher than having a specific account, so using the phone number makes it easier.” As a consequence, WhatsApp will also only work on a smartphone.įacebook also recently let users sign into its Messenger app using only a phone number, without requiring a full Facebook account, allowing users to chat with others via their phone numberinstead.

It follows a trend established by the likes of Facebook’s WhatsApp, which instead of creating a new user ID or pin, relied solely on a user’s phone number.

The app is one of the company’s first that does not require a user to have a Google account to use it, instead asking them to register and find users via their phone number rather than Gmail address. Duo hopes to remove friction and make video calling a one-tap affair.

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