Google Duo Getting Audio-Only Calling Feature That Doesn’t Eat Up Data

After finding success in releasing a standalone video-calling app, Google is updating Duo to include an audio-only calling feature. The Mountain View giant announced the new feature is going live in Brazil first before it can make its way to other parts of the world in the coming days.

On Wednesday, Google VP for Product Management Mario Queiroz wrote on Google’s The Keyword blog that the barely 1-year-old Duo is getting an audio-only calling feature. The decision to introduce the common phone feature was propelled by Google’s intention of catering to users who may not have access to stable network connection to do video calling. Queiroz noted that because the audio calling feature does not eat up data, it will work well on any type of connection speed and will also help users remain connected with their family and friends even when video calling isn’t possible.

Brazil will be the first country to have access to the audio calling feature of Duo. Google recognized that though Brazil is home to heavy users of its products like YouTube, Search and Maps, there is still a lot of work to be done in the country to make technology readily available to everyone there. Thus, the tech giant is starting its rollout of the audio-only calling feature there prior to bringing it to the world.

Duo was launched in August 2016 months after its announcement at the Google I/O in May 2016. Just less than a week since it was released, the app quickly crawled to the top of the Google Play Store’s Top Free section, as per Phone Arena. As of writing, the app has been downloaded for around 10 million to 50 million times as indicated on the Google Play Store.

Shortly after its release, Google product lead Amit Fulay said that an audio calling feature is coming to the app soon. Nearly seven months later, the feature is now being rolled out to consumers albeit slowly. The gap between Fulay’s statement and the release of the feature is said to indicate that audio calling wasn’t one of the top priorities of the company, as pointed out by TechLone.