Google Brings Allo IM To Desktop

What cell phones were to landlines, instant messages are to smartphones: a more streamlined way of communicating. In today’s fast-moving tech society, any method consumers can use to communicate in a more effective and efficient manner, without disrupting their daily work flow, is viewed as a check mark in the “pro” column of human interaction.

After months of waiting with baited breath, consumers using Google Allo now have a new way to access it. This week, Google announced news it has made its consumer chat app Allo available for desktop users via its Google Chrome browser. The instant messaging service, which was unveiled for mobile devices about a year ago at the Google I/O Developer Conference, is no longer relegated to just mobile.

Consumers can pair their mobile devices with the Google Chrome web client via a QR code in this desktop-friendly version, and the web client mirrors the mobile app on the computer screen. Since the web version copies exactly what it sees on the paired mobile device, it will only operate if the mobile device in question has battery life. Once the phone’s battery dies out, users will no longer have access to the web chat system.

While Google Allo is currently only compatible with Android devices, Google has shared news it will make the chat app available to iPhones down the line. Google Assistant will also be available through Allo’s web application and will be keeping a history of any requests made.

Allo on mobile devices saw more than 10 million downloads through Google Play in 2016. With its various partnerships and this new offering, it appears Google is looking to maintain its foothold in the tech space by expanding its offerings in known successful avenues.