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Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

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Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#11

Post by guessmyname »

I am starting to believe that these "new chat projects from Google" are actually all the same one with a different name to keep, whatever work they are doing, alive.

I heard some time ago from the colleague who got an internship at Google that they have to release a new project almost every 3 months and then fight against other internal teams to do a public release. This way they — mostly interns — can justify a full-time contract. At the same time, because these projects also need a project manager, some high profile engineers help the interns in order to get bonuses and also to justify a change of responsibilities to, maybe, become full time engineering managers.

Whatever the story behind the chat re-brands is, many will agree with me that this is becoming irritating.

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#12

Post by bb88 »

tallanvor wrote: post #6

Can anyone explain why I should be interested in RCS, though? It seems like it's more designed to let carriers try and stem the flow of customers switching to other options, and I don't really see what benefits it offers me.

Years ago 1998ish(?), there was a fight to open up chat applications AIM, ICQ, YIM, etc. We had to have 20 apps to chat with each other.

Fast forward 20 years, and here we are again, FB Messenger, Kik, WhatsApp, Allo, Signal, Telegram, SMS, Slack, etc.

At least this appears to be a "standard" that everyone can use again.

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#13

Post by oh-kumudo »

aiiane wrote: post #8
tallanvor wrote: post #6

Can anyone explain why I should be interested in RCS, though? It seems like it's more designed to let carriers try and stem the flow of customers switching to other options, and I don't really see what benefits it offers me.

The closest thing to a standards-based, non-walled-garden option that has the possibility of widespread adoption?

Only being deprecated 1.5 years later?

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#14

Post by oh-kumudo »

Dawny33 wrote: post #4

Why isn't Google doubling down on marketing Allo on Android? They already have a huge ecosystem in Android, which no other company other than Apple has.

Why would people use Allo? It has almost zero additional (except some useless AI gimmick) offering comparing with Facebook Messenger.

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#15

Post by sdrothrock »

Corrado wrote: post #2

I think RCS is a great idea and Google should be pushing it. In fact, I would argue that few other companies could make it happen in a way that Google can. RCS opens up a much larger world than a simple "chat" client does.

> RCS opens up a much larger world than a simple "chat" client does.

How so? It's carrier-specific and thus limited to phones on carriers that support it. What about international messaging, etc.?

One of the huge benefits of Hangouts is that I can chat with anyone anywhere, phone or computer, America or Japan.

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#16

Post by polskibus »

Long time ago, Google chat supported XMPP. Later on that support has been cut off.

How do they expect people to trust this statement: "We don’t believe in taking the approach that Apple does. We are fundamentally an open ecosystem. We believe in working with partners. We believe in working with our OEMs to be able to deliver a great experience,” ?

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#17

Post by hvidgaard »

aiiane wrote: post #8
tallanvor wrote: post #6

Can anyone explain why I should be interested in RCS, though? It seems like it's more designed to let carriers try and stem the flow of customers switching to other options, and I don't really see what benefits it offers me.

The closest thing to a standards-based, non-walled-garden option that has the possibility of widespread adoption?

Like XMPP that Google abandoned? The solution is hardly to create a new standard, but improve in existing, perhaps rewrite them to address fundamental issues. But if it's meant to be used collaboratively, it should be developed collaboratively.

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#18

Post by bb88 »

Dawny33 wrote: post #4

Why isn't Google doubling down on marketing Allo on Android? They already have a huge ecosystem in Android, which no other company other than Apple has.

Allo take up has been low, and there are better (or similar) alternatives. So they're not losing much.

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#19

Post by underwater »

bb88 wrote: post #12
tallanvor wrote: post #6

Can anyone explain why I should be interested in RCS, though? It seems like it's more designed to let carriers try and stem the flow of customers switching to other options, and I don't really see what benefits it offers me.

Years ago 1998ish(?), there was a fight to open up chat applications AIM, ICQ, YIM, etc. We had to have 20 apps to chat with each other. Fast forward 20 years, and here we are again, FB Messenger, Kik, WhatsApp, Allo, Signal, Telegram, SMS, Slack, etc. At least this appears to be a "standard" that everyone can use again.

Why would any of those products get onboard, unless they’re already failing?

Re: Google changes its messaging strategy again: Goodbye to Allo, double down on RCS

#20

Post by bhaavan »

bb88 wrote: post #12
tallanvor wrote: post #6

Can anyone explain why I should be interested in RCS, though? It seems like it's more designed to let carriers try and stem the flow of customers switching to other options, and I don't really see what benefits it offers me.

Years ago 1998ish(?), there was a fight to open up chat applications AIM, ICQ, YIM, etc. We had to have 20 apps to chat with each other. Fast forward 20 years, and here we are again, FB Messenger, Kik, WhatsApp, Allo, Signal, Telegram, SMS, Slack, etc. At least this appears to be a "standard" that everyone can use again.

https://xkcd.com/927/ Relevant xkcd.
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