How To Make Group Video Calls With Your Smartphone?

How to make group video calls
How to make group video calls during the COVID-19 quarantine with your mobile

So you are curious how to make group video calls through your phone? You are maintaining social distancing physically but you are social with your mobile. Man is a social animal and cannot live without socializing. The best way now in this pandemic is to socialize with your friends and family with your mobile. Making a video call also allows you to see your friends or family and that boosts your morale and spreads happiness in this time of Covid 19 scenario.

Make Group Video Calls

There are a few popular platforms like Apple’s FaceTime and Facebook Messenger, but there are several services beyond those two platforms that offer more interesting functionality. The following list explains a few of each video chat service’s key features, how many people can chat on the platform at a time and any other interesting features that might help you decide what video chat platform you want to use.

  • Apple’s FaceTime
  • Google Duo
  • Facebook Messenger
  • Zoom
  • Others

Apple’s FaceTime

How to make group video calls with Apple Facetime
How to make group video calls with Apple Facetime

Video calling services Facetime Apple’s video calling platform has expanded considerably since it launched in the summer of 2010. Now, up to 32 people can chat together using the tech giant’s floating bubble interface. Apple’s group video chat offering is one of the more interesting options since it allows for so many people and it uniquely displays in a cool bubble pattern that boosts the size of the person talking. The only major issue with Facetime is that it’s exclusive to Apple’s hardware, which means it only works on Macs, iPods, iPads and iPhones. If you and your friends only use Apple products, this is likely your best option.

How to make a video call?

How to make a video call
How to make a video call- make group video calls

Open the FaceTime app and sign in with your Apple ID. You can also do this from Settings > FaceTime.

If you’re using an iPhone, FaceTime automatically registers your phone number. To also register your email address on your iPhone, go to Settings > FaceTime > Use your Apple ID for FaceTime, and sign in with your Apple ID.

If you’re using an iPad or iPod touch, register your email address by tapping Settings > FaceTime > Use your Apple ID for FaceTime, and sign in with your Apple ID.

To make a FaceTime call, you need the person’s phone number or registered email address. There are a few ways to make a FaceTime call:

  • In the FaceTime app, tap the plus button and type the person’s phone number or email address. Tap the number or address, then tap Audio or Video.
  • If you have the person’s phone number or email address saved in your Contacts, you can start typing their name and tap the name when it appears. Then tap Audio or Video.
  • You can also start a FaceTime video call from your iPhone during a phone call. Tap the FaceTime icon in the Phone app to switch to FaceTime.

Google Duo

How to make group video calls with Google Duo
How to make group video calls with Google Duo

The duo is Google’s slick answer to Facetime. It works well and can be downloaded and used on tons of devices. There’s even a web version of Duo, so every computer with a webcam can make these types of calls. Duo video calling is even available on select Google Assistant-enabled smart displays that have webcams.

In light of the coronavirus panic, Google has increased the maximum amount of people that can participate in Duo calls from eight to 12. If you want to make group Duo calls you can also include people using Google Home or Nest smart speakers, but you’ll only be able to hear them. You can use Duo on the web, and download it on iOS and Android.

How to make a video call?

Make sure you have the latest version of the Duo app and you’re running Android 7.0 and up

  •  On your Android device, open the Duo app.
  • Tap a name to call.
  • Choose a Video call or Voice call.
  • When done, tap End call.

If you have a Google Home device connected to your Duo account, you can call it from the app:

  • On your Android device, open the Duo app.
  • At the top of your contact list, tap Call Home.
  • Duo will call any Google Home device you’re signed in to like Smart Displays with Google Assistant.

Note that your Google Assistant language must be set to English US, English UK, Canadian English, or French Canadian.

You can make Google Duo calls from other apps as well.

If your carrier has its own video-calling feature:

  • If you and the person you’re calling have the same carrier, the call might use your carrier’s video service.
  • If you have different carriers, the call will use Google Duo.

Start a group video call

Start a group video call
Start a group video call- make group video calls

To create a group:

  • On your Android phone, open the Duo app.
  • On the screen, swipe up.
  • Tap Create group.
  • Choose your contacts.
  • Tap Video call.

Optional: When the call is done, you can name the group. Enter a name and tap Save. Everyone in the group will see the name.

To call an existing group or join a live group call:

On your Android phone, open the Duo app.

On the screen, swipe up.

Under “Groups,” choose to call a group or join a live group, if available.
Note: If “Live” is under the group name, the call is live and you can join.

  • To call an existing group, tap the group name Start Video call.
  • To join a live group call, tap the group name Join Video call.
  • To add members, rename a group, or leave a group:
  • Open the Duo app and swipe up on the screen.
  • Under “Groups,” tap a group More.

Choose an option and follow the instructions on the screen.

Facebook Messenger

How to make group video calls with Fb Messenger
How to make group video calls with Fb Messenger

Facebook also has a hugely popular video chat app that works through its website, app, the Facebook Messenger app, the Messenger website, and the company’s Portal smart displays and webcams. This is probably one of the most widely available platforms for video calling. Facebook allows 50 people per call, but once you get over six people in a call, only the person who’s talking shows up on the screen. Like Facetime, you can add people to a call as it’s in progress which is really handy if you video chat a lot.

How to make a video call?

You can call one person, or make group calls.

To voice chat on Facebook:

  • Click at the top right of the screen.
  • Open a conversation with the person or people you want to voice chat with.
  • Click in the top right corner of the chat window.

Once you’ve started a voice call, you can make it a video chat by tapping. Keep in mind that you may not be able to call people if their phones aren’t connected to the Internet.

Note: For invoice or video calls between only two people, your IP address will be shared with the other person’s device to establish a peer-to-peer connection. A peer-to-peer connection uses your IP address to connect directly with the person you’re calling to help improve the audio and video quality of your call. While this happens in the background, it may be possible for the other person to discover your IP address.

Zoom

How to make group video calls with Zoom
How to make group video calls with Zoom

Zoom is a more business-focused service since it supports up to 100 people on its free plan and all the way up to 500 people with the most expensive subscription plan. That said, it’s one of the most restrictive rules for free users. If you’re on the base-level plan you can only talk to people for 40 minutes at a time. Zoom is= available on Android, iOS and the web.

How to make a video call?

Signing up for Zoom is free and easy.

You just need a valid email address, and the willingness to accept Zoom’s privacy policy and terms – which are fairly standard.

Anyone can sign up for Zoom by downloading the app or heading to the official website.

You can find the Zoom sign-up page here: Zoom

  • To host a video meeting, load up the website or app.
  • Make sure you’re logged in, then click New Meeting and Start With Video.
  • You can then share a link to invite other people.
  • If you receive a link to join a meeting, simply click it and you’ll be taken to the right video conference.
  • Of course, you’ll still need to have Zoom installed to join a meeting.

Other Apps

You can make video calls from the Amazon Alexa app to other people who have the Alexa app or an Amazon smart display. Snapchat also has group video chatting but it’s only for 16 people. Instagram allows six people to partake in a video call at once.

For Android phones, Google Hangouts is another video chat option from Google and Google Duo is the best to make group video calls. Now make calls and do socialize in the best of ways.

Conclusion

These are the multitude of apps from which you can start a group video call.