> Trying to train them to use whatever app Google currently uses for video calls, and then retraining every time Google kills it off for another almost identical app
This seems like an argument for picking something third-party, perhaps Signal. It's probably not going away any time soon, and it supports both major mobile operating systems.
both iOS and Facetime are super slick and baked into the device. The end user doesn't even have to really know how to the app to use the feature as it were. It shows up on a contact as a button click.
Signal does not, even on Android. You have to deliberately use it.
That small friction isn't great when you're likely one of few people using it in day to day life of others.
FaceTime on the other hand, just works
Does that mean Signal has access to my contacts? So much for privacy!
12 to 15 years ago, when I was teaching the elders in the family how to video call, there were only two reliable options, Google and Apple.
Google kept changing their solution, so we ended up with Facetime.
Whatsapp did end up coming out with video calls, and Whatsapp would have been an alternative had it been available on iPads sooner (is it even available today?). Signal also came out too late.
But once everyone was trained on Facetime, I, nor any of my cousins was going to put in the time to re-train on any other solution. Plus, if anyone has a problem with Facetime, or their Apple device, they can pop into an Apple store to get it fixed themselves. Or they can chat with an Apple tech support rep who can remote into their phone.