Google is Bringing Video Calling to Android
- Paul Thurrott
- Oct 12, 2017
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47
Google announced today that it will integrate video calling capabilities directly into Android.
“We’re making video calling an integrated part of your phone,” Google product manager Jan Jedrzejowicz writes. “You can now start a video call directly from where you call or text message your friends, through your Phone, Contacts, and Android Messages apps. Later this year, we’ll also add the ability to upgrade an ongoing voice call to video with just a tap.”
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So that is pretty exciting. It’s also a nice turnaround from Google’s historically messed up communications strategy. For example, Google announced two messaging apps, Allo and Duo at Google I/O in mid-2016, with the latter aimed at video calls. But both compete, in some ways, with another Google app, Hangouts.
Anyway, integrated video calling is being rolled out first to first-generation Pixel handsets and Android One and Nexus devices, Google says. And it will, of course, be available on the Pixel 2 when those handsets ship in November. Google says that it is working with its carrier and hardware partners to bring this experience to more devices over time as well.
Conversation 47 comments
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Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#206831"><em>In reply to Orin:</em></a></blockquote><p>Android messaging is not un-usable, but I still see Android users struggle with group messaging all the time. </p><p><br></p><p>A iPhone user starts a group message, I reply to the group and often someone on Android will get my text and think it is just me texting them because it simply breaks, where everyone else sees my reply in the group message. Getting a reply from the Android user like "who is this?" because they don't have me in their contacts and the text looks like it is just me to them.</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#206747"><em>In reply to Daekar:</em></a></blockquote><p>It is not the color so much as all the abilities that come with it. </p><p><br></p><p>It is the default (can't be changed) messaging platform on iOS. iMessage comes with a lot of abilities, many lame but many very nice. The combination of being the only default and those abilities make it popular.</p>
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jbuccola
<blockquote><a href="#206717"><em>In reply to BoItmanLives:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><p>AirDrop… handoff… unified messaging across devices… a cohesive platform strategy that works… highest grade security of any consumer OS… no need to reset/reload every 3 months… privacy… </p><p><br></p><p>Yeah, nothing good there at all.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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jbuccola
<blockquote><a href="#206832"><em>In reply to Orin:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>There are select use cases / phones / configurations that are exempt, but the majority have this issue. Inverse is true on iOS.</p><p><br></p><p>The other aspect often overlooked is resale value. IOS devices simply don’t depreciate as fast as Android devices.</p>
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Bats
<p>The only problem I have with Google Duo is that's not yet available for the desktop, or Chrome. One of the great things about Hangouts is that you can type chat or video call on both the phone and the desktop. </p>
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Stooks
<p>Oddly missing from your blog post, is the technical part of all of this. Reading your post I was wondering how this is happening?????? I mean on the Apple side it is Facetime, where you do this from you contacts in a iOS or macOS device. From Microsoft is would be Skype. How is Google doing this???????????????????????????</p><p><br></p><p>From the link to Google they DO explain it.</p><p><br></p><p>"<span style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65);">If you and the person you’re video calling are on a carrier that supports ViLTE video call service, your video calls will be routed through the carrier’s ViLTE service. If not, Google Duo will connect your video call to anyone with the app installed"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65);">All I can say is….its about time???</span></p><p><br></p><p>Google's messaging strategy is a complete mess. We have Android Messenger, Hangouts, Allo, Duo and now ViLTE.</p><p><br></p><p>Same goes for their music/video options. Google Play Music, Google Play Video, YouTube, YouTube Red, YouTube music, YouTube TV….ALL with separate apps.</p><p><br></p><p>Email….Gmail or Inbox?</p><p><br></p><p>ChromeOS, Android or a new OS to unify both of those??</p><p><br></p><p>Google where are you going????????</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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jbuccola
<blockquote><a href="#206741"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I wish I could upvote this x1000.</p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Don't forget about Google Voice… is it a tether or backbone of Fi? Will it be maintained going forward? How does it integrate with the other myriad messaging products?</span></p><p><br></p><p>Google's platform is rife with products in beta or at imminent risk of abandonment. </p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><a href="#206868"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>Ummm…Ok?</p><p><br></p><p>The point really is Google's lack of strategy or ability to communicate their strategy is lacking. </p><p><br></p><p>They make some great products but their ability to focus and communicate is horrible. </p><p><br></p><p>It is like a bunch of really smart ADHD nerds making great stuff but with zero project management or marketing behind it.</p><p><br></p><p>I was actually shocked I saw a commercial on TV for the new Pixel 2 phone. I remember seeing ad's for the first Pixel for about 4 weeks after it launched. Compare that to iPhone or Samsung ad's which are year round.</p>