Google has made a habit of launching, changing, and eventually killing text, voice, and video apps so many times that I have a hard time remembering which ones are still around. Now the company is taking another step in its confusing communications strategy and merging its Google Duo and Google Meet video calling apps.

Within the next few weeks the Google Duo app will pick up all of Google Meet’s features. And later this year Google will rename Duo to Google Meet.

In other words, if you’ve already got the Duo app on your phone, it’s going slowly turn into a Google Meet app that also includes existing Duo functionality including the ability to make a quick call to contacts using phone numbers or email addresses. Your history should also be saved and you won’t need to install a new app.

But Duo will soon also have Meet features that let you:

  • Scheduling video meetings
  • Customize virtual backgrounds
  • Use in-meeting chat
  • Live share content
  • View real-time closed captions
  • Have calls with up to 100 participants
  • Integrate with other apps including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, and Google Messages

While Duo was originally positioned as a simple app for quickly placing one-on-one video calls (which is why it’s called Duo), it’s eventually expanded to support group chats for up to 32 people. In some ways, adding features from Google Meet seems like the next logical step. In others, though, it seems to take away some of the simplicity that made Duo useful for some folks.

That said, this is Google we’re talking about, so it’s probably just a matter of time before the company launches a different video calling app.

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2 replies on “Google Duo and Meet are merging as Google’s strategy for communication apps continues its haphazard evolution”

  1. Google’s constant updates are worth for all of us but, it would have been great if they would have added some new unique features to it. Just a thought!

  2. Hangouts is rolling in its grave. What’s next, merging the new Duo/Meet with Chat and we’ll have gone full circle?

    I’m pleasantly surprised by this move as they’re showing commitment to Duo and all the mentioned features should be pretty out of the way in day by day usage. Also, it looks like they’re avoiding the mistake of downgrading anyone’s experience. Neither Duo or Meet users should be missing any features.

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