Google Allo

[Sushubh]

Official Google Blog: Saying to Allo and Duo: new apps for smart messaging and video calling

Allo is a smart messaging app that makes your conversations easier and more expressive. It’s based on your phone number, so you can get in touch with anyone in your phonebook. And with deeply integrated machine learning, Allo has smart features to keep your conversations flowing and help you get things done.
Allo also features the Google assistant, bringing the richness of Google directly into your chats—helping you find information, get things done, and have fun. You can chat one-on-one with the assistant, or call on Google in a group chat with friends. Either way, you no longer have to jump between apps to do things like book a dinner reservation with friends, get up-to-date sports scores, settle a bet, or play a game. The assistant in Allo lets you bring things like Search, Maps, YouTube and Translate to all your conversations, so that you and your friends can use Google together.Duo is a simple, fast one-to-one video calling app for everyone—whether you’re on Android or iOS, a fast or slow connection, in New York or New Delhi. Like Allo, Duo is based on your phone number, allowing you to reach anyone in your phonebook. And its simple interface fades away when you’re in a call, so it’s just the two of you.

 

[Sushubh]

Would not require a Google account. Would be based on your mobile number.

 

[Sushubh]

Open Whisper Systems >> Blog >> Open Whisper Systems partners with Google on end-to-end encryption for Allo

 

[Sushubh]

Allo by Google - Android Apps on Google Play

Allo is a messaging app that makes conversations easier, more productive, and more expressive.

The Google assistant
Get answers, find information, and get things done without having to leave your conversation.

Smart Reply
Respond to messages without typing a single word. Smart Reply learns over time and suggests responses in your style. It responds to text and photos to help you keep the conversation going.

Ink
Get creative with the photos you send by doodling on them.

Whisper Shout
No more TYPING IN ALL CAPS to get your point across. Say it louder or quieter by changing the size of your text with a quick swipe.

Stickers
Say what you really mean with exclusive stickers designed by independent artists and studios from around the world.

Incognito mode
Chat privately with end-to-end encryption. Control how long your messages stick around with expiring chats. Use private notifications to hide your chats from shoulder surfers.

 

[Sushubh]

 

[moindear]

"This content is not available in your country yet."

Seems it will be a slower rollout process!

 

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[Sushubh]

the app is not being rolled out. you can register for now to get notified when it is released. google said that it would be coming in the near future. that could be a few weeks or months away.

 

[Sushubh]

hmm. yesterday i was able to pre-register for the app. looks like they have now made it region restricted.

 

[SVK]

So how many would deflect from WhatsApp to Allo?
WhatsApp now enjoys default messenger status. May take long time for Allo to reach there, and even longer if it remains on limited platform.
BTW why 2 apps, why can't video chat also handled by Allo?

 

[Sushubh]

Coz Google has gone nuts. They already have Hangouts. And through the I/O there was absolutely zero mention of Hangouts and what they plan to do with it. Not that Hangouts has many users left. Allo has no chance at succeeding considering it would be restricted to iOS and Android. And from the demos, it does not even appear to be aimed at taking on WhatsApp. It is just Google demonstrating their machine learning technologies through a chatting interface. Though it is good to see that the company would finally have a decent video calling solution because Hangouts in my opinion is awful at that.