Google has apparently planned to phase out Google Duo, originally a FaceTime competitor, in favor of Google Meet, its video conferencing app that competes in the same space as Zoom.
According to 9to5Google, Google’s Javier Soltero, who runs the company’s G Suite of services, does not feel that Google Duo and Google Meet should coexist. Instead, Soltero is expected to keep track of an initiative known as Duet (Youo and Meet) which will see some of the Duo’s features integrated into Meet, including end-to-end encryption, 3D effects, and contacting users for a video via phone number.
Eventually, it is said that Duo will phase out after only a few years on the market (Duo launched in 2016.) The rumor of death is thought to have come as a surprise to the Duo team itself, according to 9to5Google.
A call from Google Meet
Sources who speak with 9to5Google claim that interest in Google Duo has declined while using Google Meet skyrocketed in times of social distance. The latest service has become a go-to option for educators, students and professionals. Consolidating the services will enable Google to focus on a single, feature-rich video service for both consumers and business customers.
9to5Google reports that Google expects the transition to happen in the next few years, so it may take a while before Duo is actually replaced by Meet. Until a full merger happens, it is said that Google will continue to operate with Duo as it improves the features of Meet. Google made the following statement to the publication in response to a request for comment:
‘We are fully invested in Duo, which has seen surprising growth in the pandemic. People all over the world are relying more than ever on video calls, and we have no plans to interrupt that. We will continue to invest in building new Duo features and delivering a great experience for our users, customers and partners. We brought together the Duo organization led by Javier Soltero in May, and it follows that we are looking at ways in which our video production products can improve side by side. ”
Recently, Meet has been integrated into Gmail and has received a number of features as Google looks to compete with Zoom. With a reported growth of 3 million users every day in April, it is clear that Meet has a chance to become the market leader for video conferencing. Unfortunately, its popularity may come at the expense of Duo, which means we’ll be adding Duo to a whole host of other canceled Google services, which is a long, long list these days.
