Google Duo will be pre-installed on the four upcoming Micromax phones

By Christian de Looper September 23, 2016

google duo pre installed micromax — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Both Google Duo and Allo are in their early stages, but it looks like Duo is already making its way to more devices. In fact, Micromax Informatics, an Indian electronics company, will be shipping as many as four new smartphones with Duo pre-installed, all of which will be released in the near future.

We do not know too much about the new smartphones but according to Micromax, they will be LTE-capable and will cost under $100.

It is not known at this point if this will be a trend going forward and if Google will work with other smartphone manufacturers to ship Duo pre-installed on smartphones. Duo probably does not need much help at this point — in one month of being available to download, the app has been downloaded 10 million times. The U.S. and India are the top places for downloading the app.

The app could also become one of the required apps that are bundled with the Google Play Store.

Interestingly enough, Allo, Google’s messaging app, does not appear as part of the announcement. That does not bode well for the new app, which was launch this week but has received mixed reviews, especially considering it does not really support SMS the way many were expecting it to.

“Video calling is perceived to be a very urban phenomenon and niche but at Micromax, we believe that there is a huge potential to massify the service by taking it beyond the tier 1 markets where Micromax has an unmatched edge,” said Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain in an interview with the Press Trust of India.

Duo is an app that can be used without the need for a separate username or account and it introduces a number of interesting features to video calling. For example, it has ‘Knock Knock’ which allows users to see a video feed of the person on the other end of the call before they answer the phone. You can download Duo for yourself from the Google Play Store.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Christian de Looper

Contributor

Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…

Mobile

Google Pixel 9: news, rumored price, release date, and more

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google's latest and most powerful devices, but it won't be that way for long. Rumors of the Google Pixel 8a mean this pair of flagships will be supplanted as the latest Google phones fairly soon — but they'll be able to hold on to the title of "most powerful" for a little while longer. The Google Pixel 9 range, while definitely on the way, isn't due to arrive any time soon.

But when it does, it's sure to be a pair of blockbusters. Leaks for the Pixel 9 family are a little thin on the ground at the moment, but it seems as if Google is planning on making some big changes this time around. If leaks are correct, we expect a new look and some exciting new AI features that go beyond what we've seen before.

Mobile

When is my phone getting Android 14? Here’s everything we know

Android 14 is out now, and as usual, the first to get it was Google's own Pixel phone family. Not to be undone, Samsung pushed out its version of Android 14 — One UI 6 — after a relatively short beta period and has seemingly now completed its Android 14 rollout. Nothing, the new phone company on the block, has done the same. Now, we're just waiting for more news from Motorola, who has become the stick in the mud holding everyone up.

If you're rocking an Android phone that is still stuck on an old build, here's everything we know about official Android 14 rollout plans for all major brands available in the U.S. market. We recommend using your device's Find on page function to pinpoint your device on this list.

Mobile

5 phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 8 Pro

Someone holding the Bay blue Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Is the Google Pixel 8 Pro an excellent smartphone? Absolutely! It's quite possibly the best smartphone Google has ever made, and we weren't shy about heaping praise on it in our Google Pixel 8 Pro review. While its battery life isn't anything to write home about, and the temperature sensor is a bit of a whiff, the sheer quality of the camera, gorgeous design, strong specs, and promise of seven years of updates mean it's not a phone to miss out on.

But while the Pixel 8 Pro is a very strong smartphone, it's far from the only choice. In fact, if you're looking at the Pixel 8 Pro right now, there are five other smartphones you should consider buying instead of Google's most expensive flagship.
Google Pixel 8