VOA慢速英语：视频通话服务比较

Video Calling Services Compared

视频通话服务比较

Last week, Google launched Duo, a new video calling app. It was first announced in May this year.

上周谷歌推出了一款新的视频通话应用程序Duo。该程序于今年5月份首次公布。

Duo means "two." As its name suggests, Duo allows two callers to connect on an Android or iOS device.

Duo的意思是“一对”。正如它的名字所暗示的，Duo允许两名呼叫者在安卓或苹果设备上联系。

Duo is easy to use and does not require knowing someone else's user name. Video calls can be placed simply with phone numbers.

Duo易于使用，并且无需知道对方的用户名，它可以通过电话号码进行视频通话。

But Duo does require users to download an app.

但是Duo确实需要用户下载一个应用程序。

And it enters a crowded field of video calling services, including Skype, FaceTime, Messenger and Hangouts.

该应用进入了视频通话服务这个人满为患的领域，该领域还包括Skype、FaceTime、Messenger和Hangouts。

Choosing a service

选择服务

Choosing a video calling service can be difficult because the services have different features. The key is learning what features are important for what situations.

选择一种视频通话服务会很困难，因为这些服务各有特色。关键在于了解什么特点在什么情况下非常重要。

Some people use more than one video calling service. For example, they may use one service with friends and another for business.

有些人使用超过一种以上的视频通话服务。例如，他们可能把某种服务用于和朋友交流，另一种用于工作。

Fortunately, all these services are free, so users can try them without spending any money.

幸运的是，所有这些服务都是免费的，这样用户可以不花一分钱尝试各种服务。

Here are some things to consider when choosing a service:

以下是选择服务时需要考虑的一些因素：

1) Adding an app

1) 新增应用程序

Many of these services do not work unless you download a separate app for them. If your friends don't already have a video calling app, they may be unwilling or unable to download a new one.

这些服务大多数都需要下载一个单独的应用程序才能工作。如果你的朋友尚未安装视频通话应用程序，他们可能不愿意或者无法下载一个新的应用程序。

2) Signing up for an account

2) 注册账户

Similarly, if you don't want to sign up for a new account to use a video chat service, you may want one that works without needing a new account.

同样，如果你不想注册新账户来使用视频聊天服务，你可能需要一个无需注册新账户就能工作的应用程序。

For example, FaceTime is built into Mac computers, iPhones and iPads. No additional app is necessary.

例如，FaceTime内建于苹果电脑、苹果手机以及iPad中，不需要下载额外应用程序。

And because many people already are on Facebook, they can use Messenger for video calls without downloading a new app.

而且因为很多人已经在用Facebook，他们可以无需下载新的应用程序就能利用Messenger进行视频通话。

3) Voice calls

3) 语音通话

Some services also offer voice calls.

有些服务还提供语音通话。

For example, FaceTime, Messenger and Skype allow users to make voice as well as video calls.

例如，FaceTime、Messenger和Skype允许用户进行语音和视频通话。

Skype offers voice calls to other Skype accounts for free and to phone numbers for a fee.

Skype拨打其它Skype用户进行语音通话完全免费，拨打电话号码则需要收费。

FaceTime lets users call iPhone phone numbers around the world for free.

FaceTime允许用户免费拨打世界各地的iPhone电话号码。

4) Platforms

4)平台

The more platforms a video calling service can work on the better. Duo, Skype, Messenger and Hangouts all offer apps across platforms. They can be used on both Android and iOS devices, such as iPhone and iPad.

视频通话服务支持越多平台越好。Duo、Skype、Messenger和Hangouts提供了跨平台的应用程序。它们同时支持安卓和苹果设备，例如iPhone和iPad。

FaceTime is for Apple devices only –including Mac, iPhone and iPad.

FaceTime仅支持苹果设备，包括苹果电脑、iPhone和iPad。

5) Computer

5) 电脑

Many video calling services can be used on computers as well as on mobile devices.

很多视频通话服务既可以在电脑上使用，也可以在移动设备上使用。

FaceTime, Messenger, Skype and Hangouts all let users make video calls using a computer, phone and tablet. Users do need to have a video camera on their computers to use these services.

FaceTime、Messenger、Skype和Hangouts都允许用户使用电脑、手机以及平板电脑进行视频通话。用户在电脑上使用这些服务需要有一个视频摄像头。

Duo is not available for computers.

Duo不能用于电脑。

6) Ease of use

6) 易于使用

Duo and FaceTime are the easiest services to use. Calls can easily be answered, and users can switch between the front and rear camera

Duo和FaceTime是最易于使用的视频服务。接听视频通话非常容易，用户还可以在前、后摄像头之间切换。

7) Connecting with others

7) 与他人通话

Connecting with others should be simple.

与他人通话本应很简单。

Skype users must know a friend's user name before placing a video call on Skype.

Skype用户在Skype上发起视频通话前必须知道好友的用户名。

But Duo and FaceTime users need only a friend's phone number to place a video call.

但是Duo和FaceTime只需要好友的电话号码就能发起视频通话。

Messenger lets users make video calls to their Facebook friends.

Messenger允许用户向Facebook好友发起视频通话。

And Hangouts users can place calls with their friends' Gmail addresses or on Google Plus.

而Hangouts可以通过好友的Gmail地址或是在Google Plus上发起通话。

8) Multiple users

8) 多用户

Some video calling services let users have group chats with multiple people joining the call at the same time.

有些视频通话服务允许用户同时与多人进行群聊。

Hangouts, Skype and Messenger let users add multiple people to the call.

Hangouts、Skype和Messenger允许用户把多人加入到通话中。

Duo and FaceTime allow users to connect only two callers.

Duo和FaceTime只允许两人通话。

9) Screen sharing

9) 屏幕共享

Screen sharing allows users to display their computer screens in the video call instead of the image from the camera. This feature is useful to demonstrate something or to get help solving a computer issue.

屏幕共享允许用户在视频通话中展示自己的电脑屏幕，而不是摄像头图像。此功能在展示某些东西或寻求帮助以解决电脑问题方面非常有用。

Hangouts and Skype allow screen sharing.

Hangouts和Skype支持屏幕共享。

Comparing services

服务比较

This chart sets out the different features for each service. (Double click or tap on the chart for a larger view.)

这张图列出了各款服务的不同功能。(双击或点击图片查看大图)

Duo

Duo is available as an app on:

Duo应用程序下载地址：

Duo for Android

适用于安卓系统

or Duo for iOS

适用于苹果系统

Duo has a feature called Knock Knock that shows video from the caller before the user answers the call. Knock Knock works only on iOS when the Duo app is open.

Duo具备Knock Knock功能，它可以在用户应答前显示呼叫者的图像。Knock Knock功能只有在Duo应用程序打开时才能在苹果系统上工作。

The app will also lower the quality of the video if the Internet signal strength is weak.

如果网络信号强度很弱，该应用还会降低视频质量。

This video shows how Duo works.

该视频展示了Duo如何工作。

Because Duo is new this month, users will probably have to ask friends to add the app in order to connect with the service.

因为Duo本月才新发布，用户可能需要让好友安装这个应用程序才能通过它进行沟通。

FaceTime

FaceTime lets users of Apple products connect via video and voice calls.

FaceTime允许苹果产品用户通过视频或语音通话进行沟通。

The service is easy to use and available on iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. Users can connect with others using cell phone numbers or email addresses.

该服务易于使用，支持iPhone、iPad和苹果电脑。用户可以使用电话号码或电子邮件地址同他人联系。

Skype

Skype is Microsoft's video chat service. Users can also make voice calls on Skype.

Skype是微软公司旗下的视频通话服务。用户也可以通过Skype进行语音通话。

Skype calls can be made using a computer or mobile device. People then use screen sharing to see each other's screens during a video call.

Skype通话可以在电脑或移动设备上进行。然后人们使用屏幕共享在视频通话中看到对方的画面。

Up to 25 people can be added to a group Skype call.

Skype群聊中最多支持25名用户。

Skype also offers voice messages and other features.

Skype还支持语音信息和其它功能。

Messenger

Facebook's video calling service, Messenger, is available on computers in chat using Chrome, Firefox and Opera browsers, but not on Safari.

Facebook的视频通话服务Messenger在电脑上支持Chrome、Firefox和Opera浏览器，但是不支持Safari浏览器。

It also works on mobile devices in the Messenger app.

它还适用于移动设备。

Users click on the camera icon to begin a video chat with a Facebook friend.

用户点击相机图标开始同Facebook好友进行视频聊天。

In April, Messenger was updated to allow group chats.

今年4月，Messenger升级到允许群聊。

Hangouts

Google's other video calling service is Hangouts, which is available on computers and mobile devices using the Hangouts app. Users can add multiple people to the video chat and share their computer screens.

谷歌的另一项视频通话服务就是Hangouts，它支持电脑和移动设备。用户可以把多人添加到视频聊天中并且共享他们的计算机屏幕。

I'm Jill Robbins.

吉尔·罗宾斯报道。