If you use Google’s stand-alone video calling service Duo, we have some good news for you. It looks like they’re developing a web client version of the app so that you will be able to make video calls from your desktop or browser soon. If true then this means they’re still serious about developing this app, unlike the fate of its sibling Allo which will be shuttered completely soon. As to how similar the web client will be with the app version, that remains to be seen.
According to a source, Google will be launching the web client version of Duo in the next few weeks. And just like the previous web versions of the soon-to-be-departed Allo and Android Messages (or just Messages), it will support not just Google’s own Chrome but also other major browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Safari (we don’t know if Internet Explorer will be part of the party).
So far, we don’t have much information about what this web version will look like. But we can assume that it will have the most popular functionalities of Duo. This may include “knock knock”, which lets you see a live video of the person calling you (only if you are his or her contact) or the feature that lets you leave video messages if the one you’re calling is not picking up. As for authentication, the web client will probably just use your Google account. Or they may also use the QR code based system that Allo and Messages use.
There are also other upcoming Duo features to expect, like the group calling feature that Google previewed already and contact favoriting and low light mode which were both spotted in an APK breakdown. If they will indeed be releasing this web client, then we can expect an official announcement soon.
VIA: 9 to 5 Google
