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US software giant Google has released a one-to-one video calling app it hopes will rival FaceTime and Skype – and it has a potentially game-changing new feature.
The app’s “Knock Knock” feature allows the receiver of the call to see live video of the person calling before they answer.
Google Duo is available for Android and iOS and is pitched as a simpler alternative to the established apps from Apple and Microsoft.
Like FaceTime the free service only needs users’ phone numbers to connect, in contrast to many similar services which require login details.
Google claims Duo will work smoothly even on slower network speeds by reducing screen resolution and using both Wi-Fi and cellular data.
Duo is the first of two mobile apps Google is releasing, with chat app Allo the next to be unveiled.
Allo will feature a robotic assistant which can provide replies on a user’s behalf and offer suggestions such as nearby restaurants when friends are discussing food.
