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Not to sound negative, but what’s the point? Does people really still use a Google-based communication program after all the ones Google has killed in the past

Not to sound negative, but what’s the point? Does people really still use a Google-based communication program after all the ones Google has killed in the past? Is there an actual user base to reach using them? Personally I’m avoiding them all and never investing in any of these again. Also: We’re a few years down Duo still has fewer features than the other Google-owned IM-product it “replaced” ffs. Rant over. (And yes, I’m still somewhat sore about that whole Gchat thing and how that went down.)

recursive 7y ago
> Does people really still use a Google-based communication program Yes.
- mikelward 7y ago
  After years of trying to get my parents to use Skype, they have willingly adopted Duo. I'm not sure if it's ease of use, or reliability, or one being associated with desktop and the other with mobile, but they call on Duo even if I say "Skype".
bilal4hmed 7y ago
Google Pay, Youtube and Duo are very very popular in India. Try thinking global and not so US focussed for everything
tylerchilds 7y ago
The thing about Google is that they're pretty R&D heavy. Making Duo into a killer video app isn't the point, it's to handle all the technical edge cases in a problem space and then apply that to every system at Google. I use Google Fi for phone calls and it seems like it's fairly lossy, but they can take their improvements, such as this from Duo, and apply it using software to make it less noticeable to me, a user on a completely different product line.
- stallmanite 7y ago
  Why would a potential customer want to invest time into learning a product that’s just a temporary research project?
- disillusioned 7y ago
  Well, it's also to have a legitimate Facetime competitor, that's cross-platform and ready to roll for Android, and first-party.
freepor 7y ago
I use them, because when they disappear I can quickly move to a new one. If I'm building a data "asset" then I am careful about using something that will be around for the long term but if it's just for an ephemeral video call I'll use Joe's until he goes out of business then I'll use Bob's.

recursive 7y ago

> Does people really still use a Google-based communication program Yes.

mikelward 7y ago
After years of trying to get my parents to use Skype, they have willingly adopted Duo. I'm not sure if it's ease of use, or reliability, or one being associated with desktop and the other with mobile, but they call on Duo even if I say "Skype".

bilal4hmed 7y ago

Google Pay, Youtube and Duo are very very popular in India. Try thinking global and not so US focussed for everything

tylerchilds 7y ago

The thing about Google is that they're pretty R&D heavy. Making Duo into a killer video app isn't the point, it's to handle all the technical edge cases in a problem space and then apply that to every system at Google. I use Google Fi for phone calls and it seems like it's fairly lossy, but they can take their improvements, such as this from Duo, and apply it using software to make it less noticeable to me, a user on a completely different product line.

stallmanite 7y ago
Why would a potential customer want to invest time into learning a product that’s just a temporary research project?
disillusioned 7y ago
Well, it's also to have a legitimate Facetime competitor, that's cross-platform and ready to roll for Android, and first-party.

freepor 7y ago

I use them, because when they disappear I can quickly move to a new one. If I'm building a data "asset" then I am careful about using something that will be around for the long term but if it's just for an ephemeral video call I'll use Joe's until he goes out of business then I'll use Bob's.