In June, Google LLC announced that it intended to merge its video calling app Duo with all of the features of Meet, its enterprise-grade video conferencing product. Today the next step of that merge is happening.

Duo is Google’s high-quality video and audio calling app that allows for group calls of up to 32 people. It provides high-definition video and end-to-end encryption and can be used to call others using a telephone number or their Google account.

Meet is the company’s teleconference app that was developed for businesses with calendar integration and a way to form and conduct meetings. It’s Google’s enterprise-friendly videoconferencing app with all the bells, whistles and subscriptions.

Some features have already been shifted between the two to begin the merger and the next phase is now underway. The end result is that Duo will take on all of Meet’s features and eventually become the new Meet app.

During this stage, Google is releasing a Duo app update for Android and iOS mobile users in a phased rollout that will change the icon of the Duo app to the Meet logo over the coming weeks. So that users are not confused, users will receive a notification that this has happened.

The notification will also inform users that Duo’s upgrade to Meet will provide them with a one-stop shop for video calling and meetings.

Consumers will still be able to use calling features for free just as they did in Duo in the new Meet. They will also be able to access conversation history, contacts and messages as before. Access to meeting features, however, would depend on Google Meet subscription plans.

This merge began in July when Duo was upgraded to include both video calling and meeting capabilities in anticipation of today’s swap. At the same time, Google Meet released its own upgrade that changed its icon and logo to a green “Meet (original)” icon.

Google did this so that it would not be confused with the new colorful upgraded Meet icon. It also allows users to use the legacy Meet, should they choose, while the entire upgrade process is going on. However, the original Meet will not gain any of Duo’s calling features and Google warns that the app eventually will go away.

“Video communications is a major area of focus for us and you’ll continue to see our investments in Google Meet to help people to connect, collaborate, and share experiences on any device, at home, at school, and at work,” Javier Soltero, vice president of Google Workspace, said of the original announcement.

By September the entire merge will have been completed for all users and the only app in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store will be the updated Google Meet app for both video calling and meetings.

The same track will happen for Duo on the web. Beginning today, the branding on the Duo website will change, but in a few months, it will begin to redirect to Meet.

Image: Google