Android users will not only be able to engage in video calls with other Android users but will also have the capability to initiate video calls with iPhone users as well.
Google is currently in the testing phase of a new feature on its phone app that facilitates the swift conversion of regular voice calls into video calls powered by Google Meet. This enhancement, embedded as a dedicated button, enables users to seamlessly transition from voice to video calls with a single tap. Notably, a comparable feature has long been present on iPhones, integrating FaceTime directly into the phone app to facilitate native video calls. Also, if you are using WhatsApp and other similar messaging apps, you may not need to bother about this incoming feature at all, as you already have the ability to switch from a voice call to a video one with ease.
As reported by Android Authority, this functionality is presently accessible to a limited group of Pixel smartphone users who have updated to Android 14 and possess the latest version of the phone app. Google plans to gradually extend this capability to a broader range of Android devices in the near future.
With this impending feature, Android users will not only be able to engage in video calls with other Android users but will also have the capability to initiate video calls with iPhone users, provided they have the Meet app installed on their devices.
In instances where the recipient lacks the Meet app, users will be prompted to invite them to download it. Although this feature operates within the native phone app, it is closely integrated with the Meet app to initiate video calls effectively.
Unlike iPhones, where setting a third-party app as the native phone app is not feasible, Android devices offer greater flexibility in this regard. Many Android smartphone manufacturers ship devices with their own phone apps, enabling functionalities such as automatic call recording and seamless transitioning between voice and video calls.