Google Allo rockets past 5 million downloads

When Google Allo went live, it saw a flurry of downloads as users rushed to make the search giant’s new messaging platform their go-to communication app. Indeed, just four days ago it surpassed 1 million downloads. It seems the fervor isn’t dying down, because as of today, Allo is sitting pretty at over 5 million installs.

Indeed, Allo rode the number 1 slot in the Google Play Store’s rankings over the weekend. Although it’s slipped to number 8 by now, adoption still appears strong. However, if the buzz quickly dies, it wouldn’t be an outcome without recent precedent.

Google Duo, the company’s recent Facetime competitor, saw a similar burst in popularity upon release, but the shine quickly faded – in spite of a strong advertising push on the part of Google. Indeed, Duo is now lying all the way down at number 85 on the free charts, but it’s worth mentioning that it has over 10 million downloads.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Allo follow a similar trajectory. Although the much-anticipated app handles the basics with aplomb, users were irritated with what they felt was a very beta experience. The platform just doesn’t feel polished, and even though the developers are promising that more updates are on the way that will bring them the features and services they desire, it might be too little too late for Allo.

The app does have two things going well for it right now. First off is Google Assistant, which has proven to be both a blast to play with and fascinatingly useful. Second, the app is adept at spreading itself by pushing notifications to non-Allo recipients encouraging them to download the app. Who knows? If this app gets the features users want in time, it may survive with a viral-like explosion of adoption.

What do you think of Google Allo’s early proliferation in spite of lackluster first impressions? Will it take off as a go-to messenger? Let us know your prediction in the comments below!