Really want to keep my Pixel 2 XL but I can't get over how terrible the messaging is (iMessage)

[ClintRo]

How did you draw this from that link? It specifically says, "Google isn’t shutting down Allo".

They are shutting down support and will not continue to update it.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

They are shutting down support and will not continue to update it.

They are pausing development, not shutting down support. Pause and kill aren't the same thing and shutting down support would be a drastic move that would make the app dead space.

 

[ClintRo]

Yea, that is what I meant to say.... development, still aggravating.

 

[ClintRo]

I am serious thought... my friends and family get annoyed with the constant changing of apps, here we go again. I am done trying to get people to change. Google it is your turn, make your Messages standard on all Android phones.

I know that is the plan on this one but I will believe it when I see it.

 

[ptkelly]

As I understand the original post, the author is complaining about Android because Apple refuses to let their users communicate with those off the plantation.

Apparently, life on the plantation is what some want. All their friends are there. It's safe and comfortable. It's what they've always known. For some, change is terrifying.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

How did you draw this from that link? It specifically says, "Google isn’t shutting down Allo".

Another source citing the same article says, "The Verge claims that Allo isn't dead. Google is just "pausing investment" in it while its developers are pushed over into Android Messages to work on Chat/RCS. Google still has plans to support Allo in the future."

Both what the Verge said directly and what other blogs took out of their post are the opposite of the conclusion that you led with.

They've moved their team to focus on Messages/Chat with RCS. Messages will updated to receive a stack of features Allo currently has, along with SMS support, so what will be the point of Allo existing? Oh right, it'll serve no purpose because the default messaging app that comes with all Android phones will do what Allo does and more. Allo is dead, whether Google want to publicly state it or not.

I am serious thought... my friends and family get annoyed with the constant changing of apps, here we go again. I am done trying to get people to change. Google it is your turn, make your Messages standard on all Android phones.

I know that is the plan on this one but I will believe it when I see it.

On the plus side, Messages is already built into every Android phone, so it won't be another app they'll have to download. In the future when all this rolls out, they can just fire up the Messages app and boom, it'll have all the features all the latest messaging apps have with the added bonus of falling back to SMS if the person you're contacting doesn't have an internet connection.

This is really quite big for Google and Android. Now all of a sudden, the default Messages app will be pretty much the iMessage equivalent.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

They've moved their team to focus on Messages/Chat with RCS. Messages will updated to receive a stack of features Allo currently has, along with SMS support, so what will be the point of Allo existing? Oh right, it'll serve no purpose because the default messaging app that comes with all Android phones will do what Allo does and more. Allo is dead, whether Google want to publicly state it or not.



On the plus side, Messages is already built into every Android phone, so it won't be another app they'll have to download. In the future when all this rolls out, they can just fire up the Messages app and boom, it'll have all the features all the latest messaging apps have with the added bonus of falling back to SMS if the person you're contacting doesn't have an internet connection.

This is really quite big for Google and Android. Now all of a sudden, the default Messages app will be pretty much the iMessage equivalent.

No offense but I'm going to trust the people who interpret these statements for a living over one random person on a tech forum whose statements directly contradict those made by both the interviewer and interviewed.

Also Messages not installed on every Android device. Most oem's are still putting their own SMS app on the device. And many of those still look like they belong on gingerbread.

Also also, both Google and the Verge and every other article I've seen about this have been very careful to go out of their way to make sure people understand that this is not an iMessage competitor or replacement. It will not have the same functionality or feature set and will not be something that will be usable to draw people away from iMessage.

 

[chanchan05]

Historically speaking though, back when Google launched Allo and Duo, they said they won't replace Hangouts and it will remain a separate product. Only to kill Hangouts API in 2017. So at this point, let's just wait and see.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

No offense but I'm going to trust the people who interpret these statements for a living over one random person on a tech forum whose statements directly contradict those made by both the interviewer and interviewed.

By all means. Time will tell I guess.

I'm putting my money on Google going all in with Messages and ditching and eventually scrapping Allo. It serves no purpose once Messages gets RCS turned on by carriers and gets the upgrades Google will push out (similar functions to what Allo has).

 

[Adawg1203]

By all means. Time will tell I guess.

I'm putting my money on Google going all in with Messages and ditching and eventually scrapping Allo. It serves no purpose once Messages gets RCS turned on by carriers and gets the upgrades Google will push out (similar functions to what Allo has).

Agree with this. The writing is on the wall for Allo. Google chooses to use the word "pause" which all but confirms Allo will die a slow death.

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

Yes, wake me up when this is an actual reality. In the meantime I guess it's a good thing I carry a Pixel 2 and an iPhone X.

 

[pjo1966]

There's a setting on the iPhone that determines what resolution a photo is shared at through SMS. I don't know what it is because I've always had Android. I do know that when I receive a crappy picture from someone with an iPhone, I ask them to resend it at full resolution and they do.

 

[Rukbat]

Yes, wake me up when this is an actual reality.

We felt like that in - was it mid-2004? Back when you couldn't send an MMS from one carrier to another. Looking back on it now, even as a dealer who lost a lot of good customers over the issue, it seems like it never happened. By 2025, we'll all be using RCS as the only method of texting, we'll have forgotten SMS and MMS, and since Steve Jobs can't help Apple any more, they'll be the ones scrambling for a way to compete.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

By all means. Time will tell I guess.

I'm putting my money on Google going all in with Messages and ditching and eventually scrapping Allo. It serves no purpose once Messages gets RCS turned on by carriers and gets the upgrades Google will push out (similar functions to what Allo has).

Well, well, well look what we have here: https://9to5google.com/2018/12/05/google-allo-shutting-down/

Exactly as speculated - Allo is going to be killed off. Google haven't supported the app in months, it serves no purpose, it's a dead app. Hilarious that posters on here were defending it, denying that it was going to get axed.

 

[ClintRo]

I just wish they would pick one and support it... I am getting so tired of moving people to new products.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

I just wish they would pick one and support it... I am getting so tired of moving people to new products.

I think they want to make Messages their main messaging app. With development on Allo stopped and reports that Hangouts and Allo are being killed off, it seems like Google want to push for Messages to be the iMessage competitor.

Google messaging 'strategy' has been nothing short of a mess.

 

[GSDer]

Google messaging 'strategy'

They have a strategy?

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

They have a strategy?

Guess not as the axe has dropped, officially from Google: https://www.blog.google/products/messages/latest-messages-allo-duo-and-hangouts/

Very clearly was a dead product as soon as Google said they were going to focus on Messages and push RCS for it - meant that Allo served no purpose. Don't know how people couldn't see it/argued that wasn't going to be killed off. Lol.

 

[hallux]

I think this paragraph from the blog post is key

Hangouts Chat and Meet are primarily focused on team collaboration for G Suite customers and at some point will be made available for existing Hangouts users, too. We’re fully committed to supporting Hangouts users in the meantime

I read that as "Hangouts isn't REALLY going away just yet, but it will once we have a suitable replacement".

 

[Eggmundo]

Use WhatsApp.