Video calling, whether for work or just to catch up with friends and family thanks close and near has pretty much become the norm over the past year as the world comes to terms with the so-called “new normal” occasioned by the global health crisis.
Now, users of select Samsung TVs can make video calls on their TV sets using Google’s Duo app.
The Duo app can be installed from the Samsung app store available on the said select TVs.
Since TVs don’t have webcams, users have to plug in portable cameras through the available USB ports on the TV in order to be able to make video calls. Signing in to use the service, which is normally tied to accounts linked to one’s phone number, is via a phone (as instructed by Google here).
This is not the first time we are seeing the ability to make video calls using Duo come on TV. Last year, Google announced the video calling app’s availability on its TV platform, Android TV.
Google’s Meet service also allows users to make video calls using their television by taking advantage of the cast feature to cast call windows on other devices to the desired television set.
Samsung hasn’t shared a list of the TVs where Google Duo is available and usable from after downloading from its app store. However, Android Police speculates that this is likely to be just the company’s 2021 QLED TV lineup since some of the models there are where Duo was demoed early in the year.
