Set to launch this week, Google's new Allo messaging app is expected to be a game-changer rather than just another platform vying for a slice of the WhatApp or SnapChat market. It aims to be your main messaging and information-seeking app rolled into one.

One similarity to WhatsApp is that Allo will not require a Google account sign-in because it uses your phone number as primary identification.

Although Allo is a messaging app it has Google’s version of Siri baked in: Google Assistant – an evolution of Google Now – is an AI assistant that can carry out searches and get information, maps, etc, from inside your chat. For example, you can research restaurants and decide upon dinner plans while still chatting with friends.

It will also have Smart Reply for automatically generated replies based on your past chats and interactions. The SnapChat-esque bit is the option to set chats to expire within encrypted incognito mode. bit.ly/20f0mA9