Google Duo Introduces Video Messages & Voice Mail, Challenges Facebook Messenger

Although Google’s many products might confuse users, Google has made certain changes in its Duo and Allo, to help users distinguish them from Hangouts. While Hangouts is for business, Google Duo is for personal and informal use.

This is why the tech tycoon is updating Google Duo to add in not only video messaging but also voicemail option, reported  Tech Crunch. Moving forward, users can leave a video message to a person, if they do not answer the call, or if the users are not interested in calling.

In order to leave video messages, users need to call someone over duo, and while it is ringing, choose the “Leave video message” option just above the end call button, reports Droid Life. If the caller taps on the “Leave video message” button, they can leave a recorded message up to 30 seconds.

As for the receiver, they can either view the video message instantly or save them for later. However, once they view the video message, it will be erased from the records, so users should be careful about that.

Additionally, if a user doesn’t respond to a call within 60 seconds, Duo will start recording a message for the receiver automatically. If the video messages are saved for later viewing, they’ll be saved in Google Drive, as well as the phone memory, taking up space in both.

According to Google, all messages are encrypted end to end, and the update will be rolled out for Android as well as iOS users starting March 07, 2018. All users located worldwide will be able to see that within the next few days.

Notably, this comes out at a time when Facebook has forced its users to download Messenger app and use. Additionally, the social media network has also started running ads in its messenger. Google seems to be fighting too hard to be in the market and design a product, which will be craved by the users but has failed too many times in the past. It is yet to be seen if the latest updates of Google Duo will help the tycoon retain its position in the industry.

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