Google Duo Reaches 1 Billion Downloads Ushering The Path for a New Communication Strategy

• Google Duo app reaches 1 billion downloads on the Play Store, becoming the most successful app of the company.
• The success od Duo is clearing the path for Google to establish a new communication and messaging strategy.
• Allo is set to sunset in 2019, while Hangouts will acquire a new role in the corporate environment.

Google Duo has surpassed 1 billion downloads in Play Store, making it the second most downloaded non-pre-installed application on Android (behind only Subway Surfers). Duo achieved this acceptance thanks to its simplicity and functionality, as the consumer video calling app features excellent quality and works quite reliably.

In 2016, Google decided to take things outside the functional context of their classic hangouts, so they launched Duo and Allo apps, devoted to video and chat respectively. While the former was an immediate hit, the latter has already been scheduled for shutdown, with investment in its further development having already been stopped for quite some time now.

The tech giant seemed to have trouble in developing communication apps that people really accept and enjoy. With Duo boasting such a success, it becomes clear for Google that enriching this app with more functionality is the right way to go. So, to avoid an overlap in the functionality of Duo and Hangouts Meet, Google has established a clear strategy for their communication platforms development, devoting Duo to the consumer market, while maintaining Hangouts Meet for the corporate environment.

Google Duo is not available only on Android smartphones and tablets though, as support for Chromebooks and iPads also came along the way. In fact, Duo is quite popular on iOS as well, as it’s simplicity and video quality has won significant user engagement.

On the chat front, and to fill in the gap that will be created by the departure of Allo, Google is planning to enrich their “Messages” app, aimed at consumers. Still, corporate users will keep on using Hangouts Chat. Google is planning to increase RCS adoption and incorporate machine learning features to Messages, so it gets ready for an operational upgrade.

Do you find Google’s moves on communication apps confusing? What is your experience with Duo? Let us know of your comments in the relevant section below, and don’t forget to join the discussions on our socials as well, on Facebook and Twitter.