Google unveils WhatsApp competitor

Ah! Trying to overthrowing the establishment again? Google Plus lost the fight & now Allo, if this Allo uses too much data it has already lost to me too.
 
Looks nice, going to be tough to compete with whatsapp, facebook messenger, ios messages, slack and to a certain extend, snap-chat.
Google seems a tad late to the party... same with video calling, although, opening it to ios and android should help them.
Google home = amazon echo + added features.
 
StellenboschStudent said:
Looks nice, going to be tough to compete with whatsapp, facebook messenger, ios messages, slack and to a certain extend, snap-chat.
Google seems a tad late to the party... same with video calling, although, opening it to ios and android should help them.
Google home = amazon echo + added features.
Click to expand...

https://gmail.googleblog.com/2008/11/say-hello-to-gmail-voice-and-video-chat.html

Say hello to Gmail voice and video chat
November 11, 2008
Click to expand...
 
This has me in two minds really...

IF GBoard arrives on Android soon and isn't crippled, then I don't really see the appeal of Allo in the long term since the functionality will possibly be available in all messaging apps.
 
Again...Hangouts does this already and is multi platform.

Why would I want yet another thing that doesn't integrate?
 
Another proprietary messaging platform linked to a phone number. What a fail. Google already has an extended platform linked to a single platform independent account that could be developed into an open messaging standard.
 
Swa said:
Another proprietary messaging platform linked to a phone number. What a fail. Google already has an extended platform linked to a single platform independent account that could be developed into an open messaging standard.
Click to expand...
It was already open (Jabber/xmpp) but companies like MS just leeched off that so Google closed it off into Hangouts.
 
We have digressed so much that we need an AI to suggest conversation on people's photos? As a lover of technology, I think it's a great feature, but it literally negates the entire function of a messaging app by removing personal interaction.
And really, a phone number as the required authentication method? Why not, oh I don't know, a Google account? Linked up with your phone number as an additional "contact" option? And perhaps an independent desktop app that DOESN'T require your phone to be connected to the Internet?
And yes, just like Google+, this is YEARS too late to the party. Other IM apps struggle against WhatsApp's dominance, just like G+ doesn't even hold a candle to Facebook. Us tech savvy people will jump all over this to see what it's about, but good luck convincing the masses to change. All the old people who finally signed up to FB and WhatsApp won't change easily. All the "casual" users of those services won't even hear about this, and if they do, they won't care.

But, good luck to Google. They do at least, make it on to everyone's homepage. They do have the world's largest mobile platform. And they are brave to not just be another clone of WhatsApp, but maybe not wise when they flood unnecessary crap in to a communication tool that people will only want because it's free and they can message friends, for free.
 
Man sometimes I have to wonder why Google is always so intent on redoing the stuff they already have... They already have a messenger service called Google Hangouts, this is the trajectory that Allo will take:

Messaging only -> Success -> Video/Voice Calling -> Deprecation of Hangouts -> Move remaining interesting Hangouts functionality to Allo -> Kill Hangouts -> Allo is now essentially Hangouts with a different name.
 
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