Google’s Messaging application, Allo, is now available for both Android and iOS devices via Google Play Store and Apple App store respectively. The app is available for free on the app stores.
Just like Duo, the Allo is very light – about 9MB, and allows users to send messages via stickers, doodles, and HUGE emojis and text. Google Allo takes quite a few features from Whatsapp like end-to-end Encryption and Profile layout. And from Hike, Allo takes its famous free SMS feature which allows users to send SMS to anybody for free and get the reply on Allo itself. Another feature which unique in Allo is ‘Incognito Chat’ which is basically a secret chat feature.
Google Allo is not just any other usual messaging app and Google has clearly made it different in every way it could have. Take the integration of Google’s Artificial Intelligence for example which prompts possible replies is an extremely useful feature. And then there is Google Assistant which is actually a chat bot answering everything which Google does when you search it on the web. Further, it allows user to control how long your messages stick around with expiring chats.
Google Allo is certainly gave the potential to rule this messaging segment but it will take time because such markets are sensitive to time and Whatsapp already has that first mover advantage. Hang on for our detailed review about Allo as we test the app over the next few days.