People are looking for instant delivery of services in this fourth industrial revolution period. Many instant messaging apps are trending online. Apps may come and go, but some apps stay in our hearts. Here is the article which discusses that type of app in detail. Let us know ‘What Is Google Allo?’.
An Overview Of Google Allo
It is an instant free messaging app developed by the Google team in 2016 for smartphones. This application design also operates on Google Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. And the term “Allo” means different. The Google team designed this app as a different one.
Special features:
- Users have to register their contact number with this app and not their email id.
- Users can send text, images, and stickers.
- The accessibility of the Google Assistant feature helps people by suggesting automated replies.
- Users can also opt for incognito mode if necessary.
- It protects the privacy of the users by providing an end-to-end encryption feature.
- For video calling purposes, users had the option to connect this app to Google duo.
The smartest features:
- They introduced a new messaging technique called “smart replies,” powered by Google’s machine learning technology. It helps users reply to the last message and even suggests some responses.
- “Whisper Shout” is an enhanced feature that helps users to adjust the size of their messages.
- It brings out the artist in you by providing a “draw in photos” feature in the messaging app.
- They introduced a smart smiley feature that suggests the emoji and stickers depend on the temper and nature of the message.
- They have added realistic gifs and animated stickers to the chatting text box.
- A Selfie Clips feature was added, where users can record their mini videos and send them to their loved ones.
Though the Google Allo app had lots of special features, it failed to sustain itself in this competitive world, so they have decided to terminate this app in 2019. According to online sources, poor privacy policies and low subscriptions were the reasons for the app’s shutdown.
Both Sides Of A Coin
Everything in this world has its pros and cons, For in-depth analysis of certain things, it’s always essential to know about that. So Google Allo has two sides, which are
Pros
- Flexible encryption options
- Instant accessibility
- Back up the data automatically
- Both smartphones and laptops are supported.
- The incorporation of many smart new features
Cons
- Features like smart replies and automated replies breach the privacy of users.
- The working design of this app was more suitable for smartphones than laptops.
- Video and voice calls are indecipherable for the recipients.
What Was The Main Reason For The Shutdown?
Competition:
Google Allo couldn’t win against conventional messaging apps. Compare the download details with other apps.
| Google allo users | Facebook users | Watsapp users |
| 10 to 50 million | 1 + billion | 2 billion |
From the above table, we can see that the Google Allo app failed to attract users. So it was one of the main reasons for the shutdown.
Compatibility issues
Allo was an app that only operated on mobile phones. However, they have updated this feature to allow Google Allo to work on the web. But it was a very late update. By that time, many users had uninstalled the app. because all of Allo’s contemporary conventional apps provided excellent compatibility options for their users.
Privacy issues
During the initial release period, they implemented strict privacy policies; they didn’t store the users’ messages on their servers, but later, due to the installation of “smart reply” features, they decided to store the Data for that feature. Hence, users felt that the feature breached their privacy.
Encryption problems
The allo app automatically disabled the incognito options. It led to the abrogation of encryption features, so users were petrified about government surveillance of their messages. Allo had lost its credibility by that point.
SMS support system.
Allo’s operating system didn’t support SMS testing.
Investment problems
Lack of investment was also the reason for the downfall of the app.
Will There Be A Successor To Allo?
According to online sources, there may be a successor to this app. Google and the team are working on developing a new messaging app. The magnificent app will include superior features than hangouts and duo. And the new system will be called “chat.” Google claimed that this application would be universal for communication services in the upcoming era. They started this project on a pilot basis.
Conclusion
As the proverb says, “even the mighty do slip sometimes.” Yes! Even Google may fail sometimes. But the power to rise and come back is the real courage of the company. They are the source of inspiration for all of us. Allo might have gone forever, but RCS started reaching our phones and hearts.
Frequently asked questions
- What is meant by RCS?
RCS means rich communication services; it is a new protocol designed by Google for messaging.
- When was the official shutdown year of Google Allo?
It was 2019 Google announced the shutdown.
