Google’s Duo video call set to challenge Skype, Facetime

Now, all you need is a phone number to start a video call with any contact who uses an Android- or iOS-based smartphone. Google on Tuesday launched Google Duo, pitting it directly against Apple Inc’s FaceTime, which allows video calls only between Apple devices. Duo will also compete with Microsoft Corp’s video-calling app Skype, Facebook Inc’s Messenger and even its own Hangout app. 

Duo comes with a unique feature called “knock knock”, which allows a person to see live, the video of a caller before answering. Google said video calls would work even on slower networks by “gracefully” reducing the resolution to keep the call going smoothly. 

“For video calls on the go, Duo will switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping your call,” Justin Uberti, principal software engineer, wrote in a blog post. Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, said the app would be live worldwide in the next few days.