Google launched a new messaging service last year named as Google Allo. This messaging service showed great promise at launch. Even today, it has all the features as well as a great UI which is needed for a messaging app. However, it just didn’t get picked up for some reason. One of them could be the massive popularity of WhatsApp around the world. We know that WhatsApp already has billions of users actively using the app monthly. Google tried to take a share out of these user base it can now be said that it failed to do so.
As an effect of this failure, Google has decided to shut down Allo. In an announcement made by Google this morning, the company confirmed their decision. In their announcement blog post, Google wrote “We want every single Android device to have a great default messaging experience. We’ve been working closely with the mobile industry to upgrade SMS so that people around the world can more easily enjoy group chats, share high-res photos, and get read receipts on any Android device.”
“In parallel, we built Google Allo, a smart messaging app, to help you get more done in your chats and express yourself more easily. – Given Messages’ continued momentum, we’ve decided to stop supporting Allo to focus on Messages. Allo will continue to work through March 2019 and until then, you’ll be able to export all of your existing conversation history from the app—We’ve learned a lot from Allo, particularly what’s possible when you incorporate machine learning features, like the Google Assistant, into messaging.”
Also, Google has decided to make their strategy clearer regarding messaging apps. Google has announced that Messages will be their RCS service. Also, Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat will be their premier video and online chatting service respectively. Also, Duo will still remain in operation and it will be their primary video calling app in the near future.