Google to Merge Meet, Duo into Single Video Messaging App

Google has today announced in an official blog post that it will be adding all the Google Meet features to the Google Duo app in the coming weeks so users can easily schedule a video meeting or continue video calling to instantly connect with a person or group.

The company also said that later this year, it would rename the Duo app to Google Meet, which will serve as a single video communications service across Google, and be available to everyone at no cost.

“We’re committed to making the transition from Duo to Meet as smooth as possible,” notes Google. At this time, there is no need to download a new app, if you are a Duo user, simply ensure you have the latest version of Duo installed on your device. 

Beginning this month, the following features will be added to the Google Duo app:

• Customize virtual backgrounds in calls and meetings 
• Schedule meetings so everyone can join at a time that’s convenient for them 
• In-meeting chat for deeper engagement 
• Live share content to enable interaction with all participants on the call 
• Get real-time closed captions to better support accessibility and boost participation Increase the size of video calls from a current limit of 32 to 100 participants 
• Integrate with other tools, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Assistant, Messages, and more

Admins will receive an email detailing the impact to their organization. For more information, visit Google’s Help Center.