Is it Time to Rely on “Google Duo”?

When purchasing a new Android smartphone, you will find many default apps installed on the phone either from the phone manufacturer or developed by Google, the owner of the operating system. Aside from essential apps like WhatsApp and Gmail among others, some people often do not use the rest of the apps and look for ways to remove them. One of those apps is the communication and video calling app “Google Duo,” which may not be used by many due to the presence of more popular alternatives like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, and many other apps.

However, recently it can be said that the app has changed significantly to become, in the eyes of many, reliable to use. If you do not believe that, perhaps you will change your mind after reading this article in which we will learn about the reasons and features that may convince you to rely on “Google Duo” for chatting, communication, and making calls with friends (Download Android version – Download iOS version).

Initially, the app provides basic features found in competing apps such as the ability to make free video calls with friends, chat, send photos to friends, and create chat groups by registering with your phone number. It will recognize your contact groups through the contacts related to your phone number. However, in the following paragraphs, we will explain what sets the app apart from other apps in the same category.

Registration via Email Account

As we previously explained, you must use your phone number to register your account on “Google Duo.” However, unlike other apps like WhatsApp, you can also register an account via the email address associated with your Gmail account and communicate with your friends through this account by chatting and making video calls. You must first register with your phone number, then through the main interface and go to “Settings,” then “Account,” you can add a Gmail account by clicking on “Add Account” and entering your account details. You will then have access to your contact groups related to your phone number as well as your Gmail account.

Identifying Callers via “Knock, Knock”

When you receive a call from contacts registered with your account, you can easily identify the caller’s identity through their name. But if the caller is not in your contact lists, you can also identify their identity through a feature called “Knock, Knock,” which opens the camera of the account receiving the call so you can directly see the caller’s identity without answering the call. The caller will not be aware of this action. In reverse, when you make a call, the other party can identify your identity before answering without you noticing. You can activate this feature by going to settings, then call settings, then clicking on the first option “Knock, Knock for this device,” and enabling the feature at the bottom of the screen.

Writing and Sending Notes

In addition to making calls, you can also write and record notes and text messages and send them to friends. From the main interface, swipe down the screen and you will find the option to write notes through the “Notes” option at the bottom of the screen. By clicking on “Tap to type,” you can write and control the text by pressing and dragging outward to enlarge the text or inward to shrink it, with the option to rotate the text by pressing and rotating. You can also change the background color of the text by using the color icon at the bottom of the screen, which changes colors with repeated clicks on the icon. By clicking on the “squiggly line” icon at the top of the screen, you can write in cursive as if you have a pen in your hand. Finally, click the arrow icon to progress and choose the contacts you want to send the text to, then send the message.

Video and Voice Messages

In addition to texts and images, you can also record a voice or video message and send it to your friends. From the main interface, swipe down the screen and click on the “Video” option to record a video or the “Voice” option to record a voice message. In both options, you can click on the recording icon to record the message, then click on the arrow icon to choose the contacts you want to send the messages to, and then send the message directly.

Cross-Platform Integration

Going back to the second feature in this article, the ability to register an account via email, you can also use the app on multiple operating systems with the same account, for example, on computer devices with Windows or Mac systems, just by logging in with the Gmail account you used to register on “Google Duo.” Then, by clicking on the services icon on the homepage and selecting the “Duo” option, you will have the same account with the same contacts. Also, if you are using the app on an Android system on your phone, you can download the app on an iOS system from the app store and log in with the email account as explained earlier in this article to use the same account with the same contacts.