Allo, the messaging app officially shut down by Google
In December, Google informed users the messaging service would be shut down at some point in March.
(Web Desk) – Google Allo – an instant messaging mobile app by Google for the Android and iOS mobile operating systems with a web client available on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera – has been shut down March 12, 2019, as the last day of its operation, and users will no longer be able to export older messages from the app.
Allo used phone numbers as a login, similar to WhatsApp. Google hoped this would make it easier for people to start using Allo as a replacement for SMS. It also debuted features like Google Assistant, Smart Replies, and more. However, it lacked SMS integration, a desktop app, and multi-device support. Google addressed some of that with updates, but they were slow to arrive.
In December, Google informed users that the messaging service would be shut down at some point in March.
Unfortunately, Allo’s successor is not quite ready yet. Yes, Google brought some of its features (such as smart replies and desktop support) into Android’s Messaging app. But in order to get features like group messaging, your carrier will need to start supporting RCS, the successor to SMS that has been a long time coming.
Now, Google is focused on just a single messaging app, it has a better chance of gaining some momentum. RCS is getting there, slowly, but it’s still got a long way to go.
Last year Google said: “We built Google Allo, a smart messaging app, to help you get more done in your chats and express yourself more easily. Earlier this year we paused investment in Allo and brought some of its most-loved features—like Smart Reply, GIFs and desktop support—into Messages. 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—here are instructions on how to do so. We’ve learned a lot from Allo, particularly what’s possible when you incorporate machine learning features, like the Google Assistant, into messaging."
In the meantime, Google has done work on building many of Allo’s features to the new Messages app, including its Google Assistant integration.
