Google isn't abandoning Hangouts for its new chat apps
The company's various messaging apps are meant for different kinds of users.
The launch of Google's new mobile-only chat apps Allo and Duo doesn't mean death for Hangouts. A spokesperson told Business Insider that the company is "continuing to invest in Hangouts" and that "it will remain a standalone product." While these two new applications might make the company's messaging products seem convoluted to the average user, they cater to different audiences. As BI notes, Hangouts is a cross-platform app tied with Google's enterprise offerings, and offices will most likely continue using it.
Allo, on the other hand, is a mobile app more akin to WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Line. You don't even need a Gmail account to sign up -- just a phone number. Google introduced Allo, along with its video calling companion Duo, at its annual I/O developer conference earlier today. The company describes it as a smart messaging app imbued with the powers of artificial intelligence. It can conjure up automatic replies, make reservations for you in-app and even has an Incognito mode for encrypted messaging. Allo and Duo will arrive sometime this summer for both iOS and Android users, so for now, you'll have to make do with simpler chat apps.
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