Google Cellphone app may very well be getting a FaceTime-like function

Google’s video conferencing platform, Google Meet, may be making a play to change into an even bigger a part of our day by day cellular communication. Whereas it began primarily as a business-focused device, it’s change into a well-liked possibility for 1-on-1 video calls as properly. Now, it seems Google is testing a brand new function that might additional enhance its use — a technique to simply swap from an everyday telephone name to a video name with only a faucet.

iPhone customers have lengthy loved straightforward video calling via Apple’s FaceTime function constructed instantly into the iPhone dialer. Now Android customers may have an identical expertise with this integration of video calling into the telephone app.

The brand new function comes within the type of a easy “Video name” chip that has not too long ago began showing throughout common telephone requires some Google Cellphone app customers. Tapping this chip initiates a Google Meet video name with the individual you’re speaking to, ringing their telephone whereas the voice name stays energetic.

If the individual you’re calling doesn’t have the Google Meet app put in, tapping the chip will take you to a display screen prompting you to ask them to make use of Google Meet for video chatting.

This new function is at the moment in beta testing, solely showing for a restricted variety of customers on Pixel telephones (our machine is working 125.0.613053162-publicbeta-pixel2023). It’s not but broadly rolled out, however the truth that it’s being examined means that Google may be planning to make it a everlasting function of the Google Cellphone app. Hopefully, we’ll see a wider adoption on Android telephones quickly after.

Whereas this new function gives a stable different for video calling via third-party apps like WhatsApp, it stays to be seen whether or not it will likely be sufficient to sway customers from their established habits.