Google rolls Android Instant Apps to 500 million devices

Modern smartphones are well-made mini computers designed keeping in mind the requirements of today’s app-based usage scenarios. That is why you get enough storage space on them to support apps along with your personal data. However, the world of technology progresses by leaps and bounds within a year; which is why what’s flagship today will not be the same after a year. Today’s 64GB storage will not be enough for holding your apps and data within a year or two, considering incremental app improvements with every update.

Google showcased an idea in I/O 2016 that could change the way we use apps on older Android smartphones. Called the Instant Apps, the feature would take app installations out of the scene and instead utilise something that needs no major expansion or update — the Internet. Instant Apps are based on the server-side operation and eradicate the need to install them on the device. The feature is supported on Android 6.0 and above, though Android 5.0 Lollipop devices will also get this feature later.

Google has recently started rolling out Instant apps to more devices across the world — 500 million to be precise. However, most of the apps that support this feature are generally available in the Western Countries. Apps such as Vimeo, Jet (shopping app), NYTimes Crosswords, dotloop, Onefootball and Realtor.com are the only ones that support Instant Apps. However, more apps will be added to the list in the future and will be available in more countries as well.

The biggest benefit with Instant Apps will be for those who use low-end Android devices with lower storage capacities. All they would need to do is do a Google Search for the app from the Android device and open the link with Instant App mentioned below. It would require a strong Internet connection, which is no more an issue in urban India these days. Instant Apps for popular apps like Facebook and Instagram will be of benefit to old Android devices as the actual apps take up a lot of space. This feature will also improve an Android device’s lifecycle, release space from apps and more for necessary stuff.

(source)