Google Duo makes a return on Android but not in a way you expected! | Tech News

Google Duo makes a return on Android but not in a way you expected!

Google Duo is making a comeback on Android, adding back the Duo icon on your smartphone.

By: SHAURYA TOMER
| Updated on: Aug 26 2022, 18:33 IST
Google Meet + Google Duo now? Look what's coming to your device
Google Duo
1/5 Google Meet (Google)
Google Duo
2/5 Javier Soltero, the head of Google Workspace said, “What’s been really important is understanding how people make the choice as to what tool they’re going to use, for what purpose, in what circumstance,” (Google)
Google Duo
3/5 “It’s really important and powerful to be able to reach you that way,” Soltero further added, “and allow you then to decide whether you want to be reached or not, as opposed to having to manage all of these different identities and deal with the consequences.” (Google)
Google Duo
4/5 Google Duo is more of a one-to-one video-calling app, similar to Apple’s FaceTime, whereas Google Meet is a virtual conferencing app competing against Zoom, Microsoft Teams and others. (Google)
image caption
5/5 However, the Google Duo app isn’t being killed off. Instead, Google will utilize the Duo app and bring an update which will rebrand the app as Google Meet Original and add all the functionalities of the Google Meet app as well as retain those of Google Duo. (Google)
Google Duo
icon View all Images
Google Duo is making a comeback on Android, adding back the Duo icon on your smartphone. (Google)

Google announced on June 2 that it was combining 2 of its video-calling apps to create a single platform in the form of Google Meet. It would be replaced by a single Google Meet Original app which would combine the functionality of both previous apps into one. Google started rolling out this change at the beginning of August for the public where the Google Duo icon was replaced by the Google Meet icon. However, it seems Google is treading back on its steps and bringing back the Duo app.

According to 9to5Google, the company is tracing back its steps and bringing back the Google Duo icon. This does not mean that the Google Duo app will make a return. Google is taking this step due to the Duo app being more popular and widely used than the Meet app.

In terms of functionality, Google Duo is more of a one-to-one video-calling app, similar to Apple's FaceTime, whereas Google Meet is a virtual conferencing app competing against Zoom, Microsoft Teams and others. The Google Duo app has a 5 billion user base compared to 500 million users of Google Meet.

Therefore, this step makes sense for Google to replace the Meet icon with the more familiar Duo icon. However, Google has not rolled back the Meet icon either. As of now, both the Google Duo and Google Meet icons are available in the app drawer, opening the same new combined app.

Google Meet has become ever popular during the pandemic which drastically changed work culture around the world. But as the world resumes normality, Google's biggest challenge lies ahead- how to combine meetings with virtual as well as physically present participants as efficiently and effortlessly as possible.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 26 Aug, 18:33 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS