Google Hangouts app is no longer fusing text and Hangouts messages, while it now allows users to send video. Google’s new messaging app Allo comes out in summer to compete with Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger.
Hangouts version 11.0 won’t merge Hangouts’ messages and SMS in the same place. The tech giant from Mountain View said that feature confused users and was not extendedly adopted. Carrier texts will be now identified with a gray SMS icon.
The app has also added support for sending video attachment. This feature was first introduced in iOS devices but lacked on Android versions. Users need to use a different app to play videos appearing on chats, according to Android Police.
Google presented on May at the annual developer conference two new superb messaging apps called Allo and Duo, in an attempt to attract users who mostly prefer Facebook’s apps Messenger and Whatsapp. The latter has more than 1 billion daily active users worldwide.
Allo lets you communicate with anyone in your phonebook—both Android and iOS. #IO16 pic.twitter.com/nhpxGJDRGP
— Google (@google) May 18, 2016
Users can pre-register on the Play Store to be the first using Allo and Duo
Google has noted that millions of smartphone users prefer texting rather than talking. As a result, the company has created a new potent messaging app called Allo. Tech analysts said it could be the main competitor of Whatsapp and Messenger.
Users need a phone number to register on Allo. This strategy has been used by Whatsapp since it was first created. It allows people to add everyone who is on their contacts list. Google said it want to help users create “more expressive conversations.”
Allo comes with a catalog of emojis and stickers. Amit Fulay and Yariv Adan, product managers at Google, have said the feature called Smart Reply will allow people to send messages without even typing a word.
“Smart Reply learns over time and will show suggestions that are in your style. For example, it will learn whether you’re more of a ‘haha’ vs. ‘lol’ kind of person. It also works with photos, if your friend sends you a photo of tacos, you may see suggestions like ‘yummy’ or ‘I love tacos,’’ said Google in a statement.
https://twitter.com/wm_shaughnessy/status/749182992967299072
Allo doesn’t come as a basic messaging app since it will include support for the new Google assistant. Users can play games, translate messages, make Youtube search or a dinner reservation without leaving the app.
Wechat and Facebook were the first companies that included day-to-day services into chat conversations. Both allow users to make a dinner reservation, book a taxi or purchase items.
The new Google Assistant will be capable of understanding “natural language patterns.” In other words, users don’t need to be formal to send a message without typing. Allo also has an Incognito mode that encrypts messages.
Google has also created a video messaging app called Duo, to compete with Skype and Facetime. The company said that Duo would adapt video quality depending on Internet speeds.
Users can already pre-register on the Google Play Store to be the first to download Allo and Duo, which are expected to be released in summer.
Source: Google Hangouts Help