Allo 101: how to get started
Allo, the new Google Assistant-infused messaging app has made a big splash. More than 5 million Android users have already downloaded the app and it’s currently one listed as one of the top free app downloads on Google Play. If you haven’t already downloaded Allo, we want to give you an idea of what to expect if you do decide to give it a try.
Naturally, the first step of the process is downloading Allo to your device. Unlike other Google services, Allo does not require you sign up for or use a Google account. Simply verify your phone number, set a profile picture and enter in your name. Since Google Assistant is the main attraction within Allo, the app will prompt you to jump into a chat with the AI service to show you what it has to offer.
Since Google Assistant is the main attraction within Allo, the app will prompt you to jump into a chat with the AI service to show you what it has to offer. The information that Google Assistant can provide isn’t much different than the search results you get from Google, but the Assistant does have a personality, something that’s been lacking with Google Now for years. Google Assistant can answer your questions, set reminders for you, give you the weather and pull up photos and videos directly into your conversation. It even has a handful of games built right in. While talking with the Google Assistant in a separate messaging thread is nice
While talking with the Google Assistant in a separate messaging thread is nice, the real magic happens when Google Assistant jumps into conversations you’re having with your friends. If you mention that you’re hungry, it will suggest a handful of restaurants nearby. Mention the weather for your weekend outing and Google Assistant will show you the forecast. Whenever you want to make sure that the Google Assistant finds something for you, just mention @google and type your query. It’ll pull in YouTube clips, photos, movie show times, directions, random facts and much more.
Messaging friends with Allo is easy, even if they aren’t using the app yet. The only requirement is that you have their phone number. If you have friends who live outside your country, you do need to make sure that there’s a “+” in front of their country code. To chat with your friends, simply find them in the list within Allo. You’ll be shown a message within the chat thread, notifying you if they have Allo installed or not. When you send a message to those who don’t have Allo yet, your message will be delivered to them via SMS. When they reply, their messages to you will show up within Allo.
Like most other messaging services, Allo allows you to share pictures, voice messages and your location. You can even spice up your conversations with over a dozen animated and static sticker packs. If a plain text is too boring, you can change its size in your message by holding down the send arrow. You can make it really small for a soft reply or really big if you want to show your excitement.
That’s all you need to know to get started with Allo. Let us know what you think of the new app in the comments below .