Earlier last year, Google launched a new smart messaging app called ‘Allo’ for the common crowd. With a focus on quirky and informative chats, the app included everything from stickers and GIFs to the digital smarts of Google itself. But, it has not been able to attract users to itself in the manner Google might’ve expected to.
Thus, the tech giant now plans to adopt a strategy that may make users think about making a switch from their current chat apps to Allo. It’s also the one thing which differentiated it from Hangouts (another messaging client from Google) and other widely popular chat apps. Allo had only been made available to users on mobile with the desktop/web version missing in action.
But, Google seems to have finally come to its senses as it has realized the need for a web app (or desktop, if you wanna call it that) for Allo. Earlier, Google decided on a mobile-focused strategy to pitch their new messaging app but now accepts the cross-platform trend. It is still not ready to unveil the web app as of yet, but has teased us with a screenshot of the same. Nick Fox, Google’s VP of Communications (Products) has tweeted an early version of the web app with the caption ‘coming to a desktop near you.’
Still in early development, but coming to a desktop near you… #GoogleAllo #SneakPeek pic.twitter.com/f7QNFH7IHO
— Nick Fox (@RealNickFox) February 24, 2017
As seen in the screenshot attached above, Google isn’t releasing a desktop client but a web-based desktop app for Allo. We’ve been reiterating this minute detail about the release from the very start. The app can be seen running on Chrome browser packing complete support for the smart and quirky Google Assistant (upgraded version of its AI assistant Google Now). It seems that Allo’s web app will support a majority of features packed in its mobile app. But, we’re not too sure about the timeline for its release as Fox writes that it is still in early development. Thus, you may have to wait quite some time to be able to finally get your hands on the web client.
Though, this is something Google should have launched a long time ago but better late than never. Other messaging clients have already been providing the ease of seamlessly moving from one platform to another without any major hiccup in the conversation.
Also, we’re currently aloof of the exact functionality of the web client. Will we need to authenticate the client using our phones like we do for WhatsApp or will it work as it is? And the exact features of the app also still unknown. But, Google is finally taking steps to expand their user base, which has stagnated after Allo’s debut last year. And it might eventually give some users the reason to make this switch but no one can predict the odds of the same. We can currently hope only for the speedy development of this client.
