Google launches Duo to talk up video chat

Google officially launched Google Duo, pitting it directly against Apple’s FaceTime, which allows video calls only between Apple devices.

Duo will also compete with Microsoft’s video-calling app Skype, Facebook’s Messenger and even its own Hangout app.

Duo comes with a unique feature called Knock Knock, which lets a person to see live video of a caller before answering. Google said video calls would work even on slower networks by “gracefully” reducing the resolution to keep the call going smoothly.