The Marco Polo app offers something a little different to the usual run of the mill of messaging apps. While you can choose between a text or video-based communication app, Marco Polo uses the video, but with all the benefits of text. Here we’ll explain what Marco Polo is and go over whether it is the right messaging app for you.
Marco Polo doesn’t just share the same name as the popular pool game, it actually adopts characteristics of the game as well. Just as you might call out “Marco” and someone might reply with a “Polo,” the app lets you send out a video “Marco” and lets the recipient reply with their own video “Polo.” For example, instead of having to download and use a video chatting app where all the conversations happen in real time, Marco Polo lets users have video chats in segments, and when it is convenient for them. All the while maintaining the same connection you get from a live video chat.
Getting started with the app is fairly simple, although you do have to give up some personal information for it to work. Once downloaded, the app requires access to the contacts stored on a device, and it also requires you to hand over a mobile phone number. While these are not unusual for a communications app they are still things you’ll want to consider before signing up. If all is good with sharing the requested information then the app works much like any other messaging app. You select the contact (or group) and send a video message. What’s more, you can enrich the experience further with additional features such as the ability to add text, apply colors and filters to the video, and even change how you sound.
Is Marco Polo The Right Video Chat App For you?
Whether this is the right app for you will likely come down to how you like to communicate with people. The big benefit with this app is that it lets you message others but in more of a personalized way. Just like you might send a text, you can send a Marco Polo video but with the added benefit of the text having a more intimate and personal meaning. In many ways, it is like Snapchat. However, while a Snap sent to someone is gone moments later, a Marco Polo video stays put until you delete it. This not only means you can come back to it at a later time to reply without having to remember the original video’s contents, but they are all there whenever you want to view them again. It’s another example of the more personal nature of the app.
Overall, this app will mostly be of benefit to those who want to take part in video chats but just don’t have the time. With Marco Polo, there’s no need for everyone to be online or free of distractions to take part in a chat. Instead, each segment of the video chat can be sent when wanted with the recipients able to add the next segment at their own convenience. This might specifically appeal to those who have family and friends living or working in a different time zone as it is an app that lets you video chat whenever you have time.
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