Google has enabled carrier based Video over LTE calls, which can be placed directly without leaving the Phone, Contacts or Messaging app. Both the caller and receiver's network carriers need to support ViLTE functionality.
Google has added the functionality of making video calls directly through your phone, contacts and messaging apps. Users will now be able to directly place a video call without leaving the phone or contacts app, if both the caller and receiver's network carrier supports Video over LTE (ViLTE) functionality. Google Duo will be used for placing video calls, in case the carriers lack the ViLTE feature. Both the caller and the receiver need to have Google Duo installed and activated on their smartphones.
The Google blog also said that a feature to switch an ongoing audio call to a video call will be added by the year’s end. The company is currently rolling out this feature to first generation Pixel devices, Android One phones and Nexus devices. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, the company’s latest smartphones will come with the direct video calling feature. Google has said that it is in talks with its device and carrier partners to bring the functionality to more Android devices with time. It is worth noting that users need to update their Phone, Contacts, Android Messages and the Google Duo apps to the latest version to use the new feature.
With this feature, Google is introducing the same functionality as Apple’s FaceTime. The FaceTime app allows iOS users to directly place a video call without leaving the phone or contacts app. Google had recently integrated the Duo app with its Pixel devices. The app is now deeply integrated with Google Pixel’s Contacts app and Android Messages app.
To recall, Google Duo is an app with support for both video and audio calling. It works across platforms and is directly integrated with a user's mobile number. One of the main features of the app is its ability to work well even on slower networks, alongside features like 'Knock Knock.' The Google Duo app was launched last year and just under a week, crossed 5 million downloads.
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