Google starts to integrate video calling to its built-in Phone, Contacts, and Android Messages apps

Here’s something Android users might be feeling envious over iOS users: the ability to start video calls right from Phone and Messages app. Google users, specifically those who have Pixel, Nexus, and Android One users, will soon be able to video call right from Phone, Contacts, and Android Messages apps.

To make this possible, Google is using its Duo video calling service and the ViLTE standard. The latter is an extension of the current VoLTE standard, which focuses on better video call quality over an LTE network. By default, video calls will be routed through ViLTE. That is if your carrier supports that standard. If they don’t, Google will route it through Duo. This means, you’ll need to have Duo installed and activated on your device. You also need to have the latest versions of the aforementioned apps. Later this year, Google also plans to give you the option to upgrade a voice call to a video call.

Source: Android Authority

WhatsApp to finally get video calling feature

A long-awaited feature is finally coming to WhatsApp: free video calls. The ability to make one-on-one video calls is coming to the app in the coming days. It can be accessed in the same location you access voice calls, under the phone icon in one-on-one chat windows. For now there won’t be group video calls as WhatsApp wanted to make sure the feature can work on older devices or those who have slower connections.

Source: Mashable

Video calling comes to Facebook Messenger

Facebook just announced that video calling is now available in Messenger making it possible for users to have face-to-face conversations with theirr friends and family via Messenger. 

Accounting for more than 10% of all mobile VoIP calls globally, Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls to friends and loved ones around the world. Video calling will expand Messenger’s real-time communication features, enabling the 600 million+ people who use Messenger every month to reach friends from anywhere in the world – quickly, reliably, and with high quality. 

Video calling in Messenger is available for calls made from a mobile phone to another mobile phone (iOS and Android).