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Uh, where are you defining Allo as one of the largest messaging platforms on the internet? It literally just launched. It might do well, but it could also easi

Uh, where are you defining Allo as one of the largest messaging platforms on the internet? It literally just launched. It might do well, but it could also easily be a flop (as many other social initiatives from Google have been). Either way it's a long ways from catching up to WeChat, Viber, or even Facebook Messenger.

flyt 10y ago
It hasn't even launched yet; won't be out until later this Summer.
bad_user 10y ago
It's going to end up on a lot of Android phones. If it's any good, it will catch on. Hangouts hasn't caught on that much because, imho, it has bad UI.
- PuffinBlue 10y ago
  Agreed. Hangouts didn't catch on because it was delivered as a group video calling service that then also did (or perhaps became about?) text, even becoming the default SMS app on Android. It also hasn't caught on because it is overly complex. With any other video calling service you call a person and they have a conversation with you - of you initiate a group conference and off you go. Hangout needs you to invite someone, but then what - you're still having this video broadcast by yourself? Actually, is it a broadcast? Can other people just join in? Apparently they could depending on your settings (in the past), but not this seems to have been separated to 'Hangouts On Air'? Who knows, I don't see why I should bother looking into it when there are clearer options available. I love me some Google, so don't misunderstand me, and Duo is a big step in the right direction for the average users experience compared to Hangouts.
  - mike_hearn 10y ago
    The Hangouts mobile app is also incredibly buggy.
    - Zigurd 10y ago
      I don't always agree something is "incredibly buggy" but when I do, it's because I experience multiple daily crashes on a Nexus 5X, which should be the most compatible and thoroughly tested platform it's running on. That qualifies as "incredible."
- hobarrera 10y ago
  The UI is awful (even as a very tech-savvy person I find it confusing!), and the web version only work properly on chrome/chromium.
Zigurd 10y ago
"Allo" is just one aspect of IMS in Android. While it isn't certain that Allo as a product will succeed, Google's approach to IMS, carrier messaging, and basing products like Allo and Duo on those APIs and underlying networks means that this is more like adding the Signal protocol to an open IMS-based ecosystem of messaging than it is depending on Allo.

flyt 10y ago

It hasn't even launched yet; won't be out until later this Summer.

bad_user 10y ago

It's going to end up on a lot of Android phones. If it's any good, it will catch on. Hangouts hasn't caught on that much because, imho, it has bad UI.

PuffinBlue 10y ago
Agreed. Hangouts didn't catch on because it was delivered as a group video calling service that then also did (or perhaps became about?) text, even becoming the default SMS app on Android. It also hasn't caught on because it is overly complex. With any other video calling service you call a person and they have a conversation with you - of you initiate a group conference and off you go. Hangout needs you to invite someone, but then what - you're still having this video broadcast by yourself? Actually, is it a broadcast? Can other people just join in? Apparently they could depending on your settings (in the past), but not this seems to have been separated to 'Hangouts On Air'? Who knows, I don't see why I should bother looking into it when there are clearer options available. I love me some Google, so don't misunderstand me, and Duo is a big step in the right direction for the average users experience compared to Hangouts.
- mike_hearn 10y ago
  The Hangouts mobile app is also incredibly buggy.
  - Zigurd 10y ago
    I don't always agree something is "incredibly buggy" but when I do, it's because I experience multiple daily crashes on a Nexus 5X, which should be the most compatible and thoroughly tested platform it's running on. That qualifies as "incredible."
hobarrera 10y ago
The UI is awful (even as a very tech-savvy person I find it confusing!), and the web version only work properly on chrome/chromium.

Zigurd 10y ago

"Allo" is just one aspect of IMS in Android. While it isn't certain that Allo as a product will succeed, Google's approach to IMS, carrier messaging, and basing products like Allo and Duo on those APIs and underlying networks means that this is more like adding the Signal protocol to an open IMS-based ecosystem of messaging than it is depending on Allo.