Google in fresh bid to conquer messaging space with launch of Allo after ‘graveyard of failure’
Google will attempt to leave behind its chequered past in the messaging space in a launch that will see it go head-to-head with iMessage, What’s App and Facebook Messenger.
The tech giant is on the verge of unveiling Google Allo, a smart messaging app that will incorporate artificial intelligence and provide marketers with another way – in an increasingly head-spinning number of ways – to reach consumers.
Allo will enable users to search and make reservations through Google Assistant while in the app, while text and image messages will be analysed and responses suggested based on conversation history.
It is very exciting watching the current landscape and trying to predict where it is going and who is going to own what slices of the pie.
With reviews for many businesses and ‘places’ being featured on Google itself now, well you can only assume that TripAdvisor, Zomato, (enter further review sites here), will feel some pain. Google has to though, because what is the first thing that TripAdvisor asks you when you click through to it’s mobile site? – Download our app. (Plus the mobile sites of many review sites are slow and users are unfamiliar with the navigation. Google is easy to use and very, very fast = user wins.) AirBnb is all about getting people to use their app and Google is going head to head with thew with Google Trip in some ways. For the user: Google are making it easier. I am a Nexus phone user and if I am in a new part of town, looking for a cafe or restaurant I will ‘Google’ either ‘cafe’, ‘restaurant’, ‘lunch’, ‘dinner’, on Google maps and be presented, instantly with a load of local spots and they will have all been reviewed, with photo’s from Google users, who actually get rewarded for reviewing. This is the real thing that sits well with me from Google: they give back. Google rewards it’s users and works hard for it’s users to make sure that they are always put first.
Just quietly: is Google slowly building the ultimate social network? Slowly but surely Google is going very, very social.
Exciting times.