Many observers have been saying that the next big growth space in
social is messaging apps, including Facebook's Messenger as well as
WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Kik and a number of other competitors.
Now it appears Google
is building a new messaging service, incorporating some of its
artificial intelligence prowess and chatbot technology in an effort to
catch up to the likes of Facebook, according to the Wall Street Journal. If the service has a new name, it's not yet clear what it is, said the Journal.
For its new service, Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., plans to integrate chatbots, software programs that answer questions inside a messaging app, the people familiar with the matter said. Users will be able to text friends or a chatbot, which will scour the Web and other sources for information to answer a question, those people said.
This
all comes as analysts predict that messaging apps could eventually
become one-stop shops for nearly all of users' needs, essentially making
them the next portals. In WeChat, for instance, is immensely popular in
China and helps users complete a number of tasks, including retail
ones.
Facebook
in particular has been working hard this year to evolve Messenger after
it broke it out as a separate app from Facebook. In April, the app
launched free voice calling over cellular and WiFi connections. And in
March, it announced Messenger Business, which is a customer service
portal for brands. Brands can deliver retail receipts and shipping
updates via Messenger, and customers can use it to change or place new
orders.
Now Facebook is working on advancing M, a kind of virtual assistant that will help users complete tasks like booking flights.
The
Journal also noted that Google has been looking to acquire a company
that build chatbots devoted to the weather, dating, image search and so
on.
Instead of typing a query into Google's search engine, users will send questions as text messages, to which chatbots will respond. Google likely will allow outside developers to build chatbots to run on the service, one of the people said.
Messaging
apps are among the most popular mobile apps in the world, but as the
Journal notes, Google's services, Hangouts and Messenger, lag behind
Facebook Messenger. According to Forrester, Facebook Messenger is the
No. 1 messaging app in the U.S., in terms of the percent of smartphone
owners opening the app at least once per month. Google Hangouts is next,
followed by Snapchat, WhatsApp, Skype, GroupMe and Kik. Viber is No. 9.
Source: http://www.adageindia.in/digital/google-is-planning-a-smarter-messaging-app-as-messaging-wars-heat-up/articleshow/50302916.cms
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