Google is launching a new video calling app for Android and iOS called Duo. As the name suggests, it’s designed for one-on-one video calls, and Google says it offers a simple user interface, high-quality video even on slow networks, and end-to-end encryption.
But it also has a few features that make it unlike most video calling apps, including the ability to see a preview of the person calling before you even pick up.
Google calls the preview feature “knock knock,” and it’s sort of like next-gen caller ID, giving you a sense of what to expect as soon as the phone rings.
Like the new Allo messaging app, Google says Duo will be available starting this summer.
It uses a new internet video protocol called QUIC, which was developed by the folks who designed the WebRTC protocol for audio and video communication over the web.