RIP: Google Allo messaging app is dead at the age of 3

Google Allo has finally said goodbye after almost three years of a rollercoaster ride. We knew it was coming since December 2018 when Google confirmed its plan to pull plug on Allo by March 2019. So practically, this is your last chance to save your chats. Here is everything you need to kw.

How to save Google Allo messs and conversations

Google Allo backup can be saved locally as well as to your Google Drive stor. Open Allo app on your phone and tap hamburger menu. Go to Settings > Chat > Chat backup and turn on Device backup. To save your chats on cloud, choose Google Drive and tap option "Back up w." To restore your Allo chats onto ar phone, install Allo on your new device and finish initial verification process. w, sign in to your Google account > Tap "Restore.

To downlo your chats and media, open Allo > Tap hamburger menu > Settings > Chat. You can select from eir "Export messs from chats" or "Export stored media from chats." You can save messs in eir a CSV file or Zip file. 

Here's what Allo has to say on its website:

"We’re saying goodbye to Allo in March 2019. During our time toger, we brought you a smarter way to chat, with features like Google Assistant, Allo for web and selfie stickers."

Looking back at Google's Allo story

Google Allo has gone through several ups and downs throughout its journey. We look back Allo story and see what contributed to its success as well as failures.

May 2016: Allo was anunced at Google I/O developer's conference with encryption and ephemeral messs.

September 2016: Allo app was launched four months after without encryption. NSA-contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward warned users t to use Allo.

vember 2016: Allo received Smart Smiley feature to auto-suggest emojis and stickers based on conversations.

February 2017: n Google's VP of Communications Products Nick Fox tweeted a screenshot of Allo running as a web app.

March 2017: Allo ded GIF library in compose bar. Allo received file sharing support for PDFs, documents, APKs, ZIP archives and MP3.  A bug leaked a sender's search history to recipients.

Google Assistant is coming to Android Messs, here’s how it differs from Allo

May 2017: Allo allowed users to backup and restore chats, ded an Incognito mode for group chats and previews for links.

June 2017: Allo enabled cross-platform integration with Google Duo video and audio calls.

July 2017: Allo received mess reactions option below each mess.

August 2017: Allo for web went live for Android users using Google Chrome.

September 2017: Allo received in-chat translation feature.

October 2017: Allo went live for iOS users, in dition to Allo web supporting Firefox and Opera.

vember 2017: New group chat controls were ded to Allo.

April 2018: Google paused development of Allo.

December 2018. Google confirmed to end support for Allo by March 2019

March 2019: Google pulled plug on Allo with an aim to focus on RCS services.

What's next?

Google has shifted its focus towards Rich Communications Services (RCS), but more importantly, Google is trying hard to make Android Messs app better. Recently, Google integrated Assistant into Messs. But inste of ding Google Assistant as a chatbot, Messs app will only treat Google Assistant as an ditional layer of smarts.

RIP, Google Allo.