Google is beta testing a seamless way to switch from voice calls to video calls, right within the Phone app.
    • warmaster@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      8 months ago

      Seriously. Fuck them. I want over a gazillion Google chat apps. Now I just use Beeper & Matrix.

  • jol@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    271·
    8 months ago

    It’s honestly amazing that we had GPRS video calls in the late 2000s but still don’t have them in the era of the smartphone. And a company like Google keeps reinventing messaging which was a solved problem in the early 2000s.

    • Zak@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      8 months ago

      Google was positioned to make Hangouts the dominant messaging and video call app, then just… stopped. I’m kind of glad that’s not an area dominated by Google, but I find the decision really bizarre.

    • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      8 months ago

      It’s honestly amazing that we had GPRS video calls in the late 2000s but still don’t have them in the era of the smartphone

      Not really.

      There plenty of resources if you want to video call. WhatsApp, TG, Signal or even (lol) Skype, have videocalls.

      It’s just that why would you?

      Most calls you definitely don’t need video, and often it’d be a downright negative thing. You need to look at the screen and look presentable, as opposed to being able to do things while on the phone.

      The reason videocalls aren’t more popular is the same exact reason Google Glass isn’t.

      • jol@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        Well, yeah, no shit. Apps had to replace what was a native phone functionality. But it’s still true we lost something. You need a data plan to make video calls while before you could have just your minutes. Of course, it’s rare that someone has no data plan but still. Phone calls are still useful even if you mostly to calls via apps.

        • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          8 months ago

          “What was a native phone functionality”

          I’ve always had video calls on my native messenger since they became a thing.

          They’ve never “gone” anywhere.

          I’m from Finland, where Nokia is from. Mobile phone usage was higher here than pretty much anywhere since the 90’s. The later Nokias had video calls, but as you say, they wouldn’t have gone on the data plan, but charged as minutes (but not normal minutes, just like MMS was more expensive than std SMS).

          The apps became more popular exactly for that reason; everything was on your data (which is unlimited), and not charged as SMS or minutes. A lot of the people I know don’t even do regular phone calls anymore, just using WhatsApp to call.

          So yeah, no-one just used videocalls. What’s the point?

    • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      WCDMA, (384kbps/384kbps) but yeah. The standard is still in the 3GPP spec too. Phones could be using it now if carriers and handset manufacturers (mostly crApple) just reimplemented it.

      • jol@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        And of course it could have improved over time. I guess moving to a more versatile protocol (Internet) was inevitable.

  • Wahots@pawb.socialEnglish
    241·
    8 months ago

    Eh, if it’s only on pixel phones, it won’t be used. We need an open standard that can be used for PCs and phones alike. Telegram already has this feature for desktop/mobile/tablet and it works across OSs. Google and Apple need to catch the hell up.

  • SanguinePar@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    8 months ago

    I feel like I’m losing my mind - I thought the Google phone app had already had this feature for years. I could have sworn that when I tried to make a call, it offered video as well as audio. And yet it’s not there now. Weird.

    • Cort@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      8 months ago

      That’s weird. Mine still does. If I click on a favorite, it pulls up their number and options to call or video.

      Edit: It may be a pixel only feature going by some other posts in this thread

      • tb_@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        8 months ago

        The Galaxy phone/contacts app literally has Google Duo/Meet/WhateverItsNameIsNow as one of the four main options, for each contact along with call, text, and info.

        How can Google not figure this shit out with their endless rebrands and new product launches.

      • SanguinePar@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        Bizarre. I’m on Pixel 6P, so it can’t just be that, unless it’s a feature only on later Pixels. So weird! 😀

  • bitwolf@lemmy.oneEnglish
    7·
    8 months ago

    How will this affect the “carrier video calling” feature already in dialer?

    Are we just using Google Meet now? Or will there be two options.

  • sleepdrifter@startrek.websiteEnglish
    6·
    8 months ago

    I’ve used carrier video calling before, the option appears when I call my wife. We both have Verizon, though, and I’ve never checked if I can do that with other people

  • PhlubbaDubba@lemm.eeEnglish
    62·
    8 months ago

    I just want it to be compatible to Facetime so pressing the video call button doesn’t just bug my sister to download meet

  • chronicledmonocle@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    8 months ago

    You mean Hangouts?

    Oh wait no I mean Duo.

    No wait I actually mean Google Meet.

    Honestly don’t give a damn about this because I’m not investing in yet another Google service to be killed off in 3 months to 3 years.

  • Delusion6903@discuss.onlineEnglish
    2·
    8 months ago

    I’m the only Android user in my family. We use Signal for messaging and video calls. Anything Google implements is not likely to be cross platform anyway.