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At this year's Google IO they announced yet another video calling app. Now it seems as though we seem to be drowning in this market but the issue is being ‘cross-platform’ and that’s something that Google seems to be doing better than Apple. As we know the Cupertino-based company would love for you to use Facetime. But your mum, your dad, your nan or anyone else you know may have Android phones. So what’s the solution? It’s Skype right? Well as we all know Skype is a bag of hurt. For years I used the Google Hangouts app as it allowed me to communicate with my non-Apple brethren but it seems as though they have left it to rot a bit, probably making way for Duo, their next iteration in video calling so i thought that I would give it a spin.

To make sure that I gave it a fair and honest test I put out on Twitter for peeps to get in touch if they wanted to test the app with me and to make things even better my partner in crime replied who not only helped me out with this review but would also provide the ultimate test in addition to my tough conditions, so thanks to Neil Pearce of International Beige for answering the call.

The reason this was the ultimate test is that I was on a coach headed from Norwich to Brighton dipping in and out of 3G and 4G signals and Neil is over in Australia so I thought that this was perfect.

So back to the app. On downloading it you need to be aware that it relies on knowing your phone number so you have to go through the rigmarole of giving Google your mobile number and them sending you a code to authenticate with. Neil sent me his number from which I could add him to my contacts, once done I could call him up in Oz with one click.

One of the nice features of Duo is Knock-Knock. This means that when you initiate a call your recipient sees you live at the other end looking like a numpty while you wait for them to pick up so don’t scratch yourself or pick your nose as you may put them off.

What I did find just over 3G, travelling at 70MPH is that the connection was seamless. As Neil broadcast from what I can only describe as the set from Neighbours (sorry my Australian friends) everything seemed pretty good. Like I say I was moving at speed between towers but apart from a couple of dips in comms we managed to have a really decent conversation right across the world. Neither of us experienced any delay. When I spoke Neil seemed to get it right away so I was quite impressed.

The quality of the video was pretty good too and the audio pretty flawless, I had no issues in understanding what Neil was saying and then we did have issues it was probably more to do with my rapid transit across the country.

The app as you would imagine from Google is clean and simple to use. I love the fact that they spend as much time on their iOS apps as they do with those on their own platform.

So, do you need another video calling app in your life? You probably don’t. But if you are an Android user talking to iOS users or vice versa then this is worth taking a look at. Hey, it’s free so what do you have to lose?

Grab it in the iOS and Google Play App Stores.

Author

Paul Wright

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