It seems like Google’s messaging strategy isn’t paying off. The company has announced it’ll be closing Allo in March 2019.
Allo was first announced back at Google I/O 2016 alongside their new video chat app, Duo.
In the blog post, Matt Klainer, VP of Consumer Communication Products said this:
In parallel, 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 addition, Google will eventually transition current Hangouts users to Hangouts Chat and Meet, just as they have with their G Suite customers. But for the time being, Google says “We’re fully committed to supporting Hangouts users in the meantime.”
Source: Google
