Google’s failed ventures: Allo and Duo

Did I hear ALLO and DUO have failed?? Now and then, you hear endless rumors of a particular application failing to cause enough stir. Such news definitely affects the mobile app development world. But, when the rumors build up against the giants such as Apple or Google then such stories need careful verification. Let’s see how much truth is there behind such a statement? Did Google’s Allo and Duo really fail to create an impact as expected?

Also Read: 4 apps which couldn’t withstand user’s expectation in 2016

Even before verifying the truth lying behind the mentioned statement, it is better to have a brief insight into what are Google Allo and Google Duo??

Google Allo

It is a smart messaging application by Google, which decked up with interesting features similar to stickers, doodles, huge emojis and texts along with an assistant to help you say more and express more. Creative with images using filters, texts or colors, doodles and memes, attractive stickers and AI assistant to suggest sites to locate places or nearby searches on food outlets right in your conversation. Check out an answer to your queries together with your friend as you continue to chat with each other. Also, have the one-on-one conversation with your Google Assistant to remind you of important events or dates and secure your conversations by going incognito. The only flaw with this application is that a great chunk of user data is shared with Google.

Google Duo

It is a high-quality video calling application available for both Android as well as iOS users but it has major competition with Apple’s Facetime application. You can save data by switching to the voice-only chat option.

Also Read: How future of Google search engine is ambiguous?

Both the new features of Google seemed promising during the initial period of their launch. Google Allo, for instance, hit 5 million downloads within 5 days of its launch. Two months post-launch, Google Allo’s momentum halted permanently. There are few convincing points, which actually go against Google Duo and Allo.

First and a foremost point has to be the fact that:

ü We are bombarded by endless messenger applications. There are endless android application developers out there each trying to come up with an interesting instant messenger application at a time when Whatsapp and Facebook are already ruling the market.

ü Whatsapp works on its core vision to messaging as well as video calling services irrespective of how strong or weak the mobile network strength is. Maybe a bit comprising on the quality of the video but Google Duo failed to offer even that to its users.

ü The machine-learning and artificial intelligence capabilities of Google Allo did not go down well with the audience where the application concentrated more on directing the users’ message than connecting than connecting them.

ü Google’s Duo has been blamed as nothing more than a mere Apple’s Facetime clone.

ü They have been an entirely mobile-centric.

ü Google Allo turned out to be nothing better than a standard messaging app supported by AI chatbots.

Also Read: Apps versus Bots- different route to Apple messages

ü Lack of end-to-end encryption in Google Allo during chats raise privacy issues.

ü Whatsapp scored at a point where documents are easily shared similar to image, location and sticker sharing but Allo does not permit docs sharing during a conversation.

ü Video calling feature is taken care of by Duo, which means you need two apps working as complementary to one another.

ü Finally, Google Allo fail to offer chat backup when bought in comparison to Apple’s iMessage.

Closing Notes

Google is undoubtedly the inspiration for the top-rated android application development companies around the world. But, this time it did fail to shine brightly with Google Allo and Duo. And one thing Google, instead of developing different types of messenger applications, could have actually come up with a combined version of the different messengers jammed with different features, it would have beaten Whatsapp and Facebook in the competition. Top-notch mobile application development companies like Fluper can draw inspiration from the errors committed by the Search Engine Guru before converting an idea into a mobile application.