Google Duo, a communication app that was launched at Google I/O 2016, has recently surpassed 50 million downloads. The one-to-one video calling app for smartphones that run on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and newer versions of Google’s operating system was specially designed to be intuitive and reliable, and it seems many people are satisfied with what Google has managed to accomplish. Communicating with Google Duo is a snap; just choose the person with whom you would like to have a video conversation with and the simple interface will bring up a video feed. If you are on the receiving end, you will be able to see who is calling via the live preview feature. It does not matter whether your family or friends are using Android smartphones or iPhones, as Google Duo will still work with both platforms in a seamless manner. For those on your contact list who do not have a handset that is capable of handling a video call, the app also recently added support for audio-only calls.
While Google’s core business still revolves around its search engine and advertising, the technology giant is also working on a number of other apps and services. Google Allo was the other app that launched alongside Google Duo last year, though that instant messaging (IM) solution has yet to replicate the success of its sibling. Merging the two might be a good idea since they could complement each other, though there’s currently no indication that the Mountain View-based tech giant is planning to do so. The fact that Google Duo was able to reach 50 million downloads is a testament to its popularity, proving that the app is here to stay for some time to come.
It is important to take note that the total number of downloads does not equate to the number of active users for Google Duo or any other app, for that matter. However, the figure still suggests that Google Duo is currently being used by millions of people all over the world, so it remains to be seen whether the app manages to maintain that momentum or even improve it.