SOFTWARE - CHAT - 28.10.2016

Google Allo: an alternative to WhatsApp?

Text only

Unlike the existing video chat app Google Duo ( http://duo.google.com ), the new Google Allo ( http://allo.google.com ) is purely and simply a chat app. This means that it only allows text chat, whereas iMessage and WhatsApp let you make (video) calls too. Google Allo is available free for iOS and Android, but there’s no web-based version as there is with WhatsApp.

Getting started with Google Allo

After installation, you will be asked to enter your mobile number and then type the verification code you receive in a text message. After adding your profile photo you can get started. A new chat session is launched by tapping on the button at the bottom right. You will see an Invite button beside all the phone contacts that don’t have Google Allo yet.

In iOS, to see all the contacts who already have it the only thing you can do is scroll through the list and check the contacts where there’s no Invite button. In Android, the contacts with Google Allo are all listed at the top. In our list of 100 contacts, only two had Google Allo. If you tap on Invite next to a name, you can send a link to the app via another messaging service or e-mail.

Chat in style

Fortunately, the app allows you to do more than simply send text messages. Tap on the “plus” sign at the left in order to take or select pictures or communicate your current location via a Google Maps image and link. You can also use pre-loaded stickers or download one of the 20 extra Sticker Packs (emoji, dogs, etc.) from the Sticker Marketplace . Google Allo also learns from your replies: for example, if you often use “ haha” or “ lol” , it will suggest these words in your chat conversations. Tip. If you’re sending photos, you can edit them by adding text or doodling on them, but this currently only works in Android.

The Google Assistant

Google claims that Allo is unique and indispensable thanks to the Google Assistant , a “bot” which you can compare with Siri but which only works in the Allo app. You can ask questions by typing them or saying them into the microphone. For example, if you ask What temperature is it? , you will receive an answer in the chat app itself.

Note. The Assistant currently only works in English. If you ask your question in another language, it will recognise it, but will give a link to a webpage which may contain an answer.

You can speak directly with the Assistant by selecting it in the list of chat conversations, but you can also integrate it into any of your conversations by typing @Google followed by your question. Tip. You can rate the answers provided by the Assistant by tapping on the thumbs down or thumbs up buttons following each answer - in this way, the Assistant can improve its results.

Note. You should be aware that the Assistant allows Google to monitor all your chat conversations and that conversations are not encrypted. Google is likely to use this information to produce relevant ad banners or ads on websites, or to store this information in a database.