There's another new messaging app out today, but this one's worth a download. While Facebook has been working to integrate bots with Messenger, Google went ahead and built a messaging app around the most useful bot there is: Google (GOOGL, Tech30) search.
Allo, which was announced in May but is now available for download, marries Google search with many of the fun features people have grown accustomed to using in other apps.
There's group chatting, stickers and the option to let messages expire. The big thing that's missing is the ability to make video and audio calls, which was intentional.
For those functions, Google wants users to get on Duo, its dedicated video calling app launched in August.
Both are free, available for Android and iOS, and designed to simplify mobile messaging. Google says they're "companion apps." (Google Hangouts lovers need not fret -- the app will still stick around, but Google is gearing the service toward enterprise users reports cnn.com.
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