Google Allo to finally launch this week

posted by Ben R. / Sep 18, 2016, 4:06 PM

Back at its I/O dev gathering earlier this year, Google took the wraps off the new Allo and Duo instant messaging utilities. Duo, which is focused around video chat, launched on iOS and Android about a month ago to a fair amount of acclaim. Users have long been able to pre-register for the text-based messaging Allo app via the Play Store, but the grand roll-out has yet to take place. According to the perpetual and often accurate leakser Evan Blass, Google Allo will finally make its way to the end user this week.

Unfortunately, Blass' utterances are quite vague on this occasion, with no specific date mentioned. Word on the street is that Allo could arrive on Wednesday 21st September. Either way, it doesn't seem we'll have to wait much longer to see if the Big G can make an impression on the crowded instant-messaging market.

Hello, Allo (launches this week).
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 18, 2016

As well as being closely intertwined with the aforementioned Duo app, Google Allo will link to a person's phone number as opposed to their Google account. This places it in direct competition with the likes of iMessage and WhatsApp along with many others. Whether the market's already too crowded for Allo to forge a substantial following, we'll have to wait and see. But Google being Google, plenty will surely rush to test it out once it does take its long-awaited bow.

Whenever Allo does become available for download we'll have the details covered here, so stay tuned.

Google Allo

via: Android Police

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17 Comments

1. Scott93274

Posts: 6032; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

Great! Looking forward to yet another messenger from Google. ::Only somewhat sarcastic::

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:11 PM 4

8. KParks23

Posts: 723; Member since: Oct 13, 2010

Lol wish I could just use the damn thing without trying to force all my 3 friends to install it :(

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 5:11 PM 3

10. Scott93274

A whole three friends? You must be married too. :P

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 5:18 PM 6

11. lyndon420

Posts: 6739; Member since: Jul 11, 2012

Now that was funny lol.

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 5:34 PM 1

12. AlikMalix unregistered

I'm married - I can so vouch for that statement - and absolute truth!! Post go the day for me (sadly).

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 11:35 PM 1

14. KParks23

Lol nope just a asshole haha :)

posted on Sep 19, 2016, 12:43 AM 1

2. aikoo

Posts: 129; Member since: Feb 27, 2016

YESSS! I can't wait for this man.

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:24 PM 1

3. Babadook

Posts: 230; Member since: May 24, 2016

What will image 5(of 5) look like for someone who doesn't have Allo?

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:30 PM 1

5. azimesmail

Posts: 264; Member since: Nov 23, 2014

5 of 5 is chatting with the Google Assistant....

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:40 PM 1

6. Babadook

Ohhhh. I thought One person said lets get italian and then the app would send those recommendations to the reciever. KK my fault.

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:57 PM 1

4. surethom

Posts: 1666; Member since: Mar 04, 2009

Finally find out how well or not Google Assistance works ready for Google Home.

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:33 PM 0

7. Martineverest

Posts: 521; Member since: Oct 27, 2015

another google product thats DOA.......duo is already dead;just less than a month after release.

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 4:58 PM 1

9. jeroome86

Posts: 2314; Member since: Apr 12, 2012

So now 3 or 4 messaging apps on your phone? What about hangout?

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 5:15 PM 1

13. ctdog4748

Posts: 797; Member since: Mar 05, 2016

Too late Google, iMessage will remain the gold standard while Allo will be relegated to "just another messaging app"

posted on Sep 18, 2016, 11:52 PM 0

15. aegislash

Posts: 1476; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

I was looking forward to this until someone confirmed that it doesn't support SMS, but rather just messaging between other users who also have Allo. Lost all interest after that.

posted on Sep 19, 2016, 10:21 AM 0

16. deku13

Posts: 7; Member since: Mar 19, 2012

Would be nice if it worked cross platform with iMessage.

posted on Sep 19, 2016, 10:27 AM 0

17. michaelny2001

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 01, 2012

i don't want to sound ignorant, but why is this important? I have been using what's app and/or viber and i am good. Allo is the same thing. just cuz it's google? meh.