Google Allo

Google Allo
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseSeptember 21, 2016 (2016-09-21)
Final release(s) [±]
Android27.0.326_RC03 / December 7, 2018 (2018-12-07)[1]
iOS27.0 / December 5, 2018 (2018-12-05)[2]
Operating system
SuccessorMessages
Available in10 languages[3]
List of languages
English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish
TypeInstant messaging
LicenseProprietary
Websiteallo.google.com

Google Allo was an instant messaging mobile app by Google for the Android and iOS mobile operating systems, with a web client available in some web browsers. It closed on March 12, 2019.

The app used phone numbers as identifiers, allowing users to exchange messages, files, voice notes, and images. It included a virtual assistant that generated automatic reply suggestions and an optional encrypted mode known as incognito mode. Users could also resize messages and add doodles and stickers on images before sending them.

Before launch, Google touted strong privacy in the app, with particular emphasis on messages stored "transiently and in non-identifiable form". However, at launch, privacy was significantly rolled back, with Google keeping logs of messages indefinitely (or until the user deletes messages) in an effort to improve the app's "smart reply" feature.

  1. ^ "Google Allo". APKMirror. Android Police. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "Google Allo". App Store. Apple Inc. March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  3. ^ "Change your Google Assistant language". Google Allo Help. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2018.