At Google I/O, the search giant announced a new messenger app in Allo. The app is listed on Google Play now, and users are able to register for updates. However the app isn’t due to launch until later this summer, according to Google. But Google’s Allo isn’t the only app in the Play Store under that name. There is an existing chat app in the Google Play Store named “ALLO”. The app has been around for a good bit, but it isn’t insanely popular. With Google Play listing it as having between 100,000 and 500,000 downloads. It’s your standard messaging app, which also includes group video chat. As well as being “secure and private” so you don’t have to worry about others listening or reading your messages. Making for a pretty great alternative to the many other apps out there like WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger and others.
Interestingly enough, this app recently got delisted from the search results in Google Play. However, it appears to only be happening in a few regions. The app has been delisted in the US and Canada, and perhaps other countries as well. It’s unclear as to why it has been delisted, whether it’s to avoid confusion with Google’s own Allo app, or for something entirely different. Now what being delisted means is that the app hasn’t disappeared from the Google Play Store, in fact it is still there. It just does not show up in search results. It appears that in the US, the app listing shows “This item isn’t available in your country”, we are unsure if that has always been the case, or if it’s part of the app being delisted from search results.
Considering Google’s Allo should be launching in the next month or so, Google may have done this to avoid confusion for those that were looking to download their new app. Which would seem a bit unfair to this developer of ALLO. Hopefully everything will be worked out between the developer and Google in the long run. But as for now, if you want to download this ALLO and use it, you’ll need to use the link down below, unless you’re in one of the few countries that doesn’t have ALLO delisted.