Google Assistant Can Now Make Duo Video Calls

Google Duo is a simple video calling app that brings you closer to your friends and family with just a click away, —and it allows you leave a video message if the person you’re calling can’t pick up.

In an update introduced by Google, Assistant will now be able to make video calls, including international ones on Google’s video chat mobile app “Duo”. The feature would enable users to make video calls from their phones, contacts and messages apps using the mobile video chat app. As reported by Android Police . 

“If you use the Google Assistant: You can start a ‘Duo’ video call by saying or typing, “Video call (name),” Google wrote in a post. The update was released on the latest version of “Duo” for both, Android and iOS-based smartphones and tablets.

Users using Android 8.0 and up would have to sync their “Duo” settings using the “Account Sync” option on their Google Assistant. The settings have started showing a renamed Voice and Video calls section where you can link up your Google Duo account. It should technically be related to the feature above, even if the description only mentions Smart Display. And For users, who do not have the app installed, the call would get redirected to another one of Google’s messaging and video chat platform, “Hangouts.

Google signed a deal with Fandango in May this year,  a deal that will allow users obtain movie tickets. If you are a movie freak and desperately need to buy a ticket to watch “Avengers: Infinity War,” or “Black Panther,” or any box office movie; then Google Assistant can be of help. All you need to say is: “buy tickets,” or “Hey Google, get me tickets for [Avengers: Infinity War for example] … Perhaps, you are not so sure of the name of the movie you want to watch, then you can simply just say, “showtimes near me,” and a selection of movies currently showing at cinemas near you will be displayed.

The feature has started rolling out, but it may take some time to reach all users.