Once in a while, out of our tech-oriented lives, we all have probably noticed the way technology is evolving with every passing day.
In May 2016, Google’s I/O has announced, Android Instant apps are back in motion as the company started their testing with Periscope, Viki, Buzzfeed, and Wish applications.
Call it bridging the gap between mobile apps and mobile web, or dawn of a newly defined app world, the concept of Android Instant Apps, by all means, is grabbing the attention globally.
But the question is;
Why?
Claimed not only to avail better prospects for android app developers but also to enhance the experience of end users, instant apps are being looked forward to. However, the question linked with its potential benefits and probable threat to the prevailing native apps remains firm.
Being precise,
“Instant Apps are liter version of native android apps allowing users to avail features without downloading the application.”
This means that the end user can have features of an app as quickly as they click on a link and open a mobile web page.
What needs to be done?
Just like any other good innovation, even this won’t be falling directly into the laps of the people. Just like any other tech trend, the work needs to be done from the developer’s end.
Well, before you get into any hustle, I would like to share that the additional work will be required in background services, accessing unique device identifiers (IMSI, IMEI, Mac Address, Build Serial, and SSAID), and push notifications.
The benefit of modularizing the application can be reaped once the app has been streamed to a device, as only after this the entire application gets downloaded and finds a space in the user’s smartphone.
How will this bring the change?
When we talk about the change here, we are primarily focusing on the change that it brings in the app world. While there’s a good list of perceptions and claims revolving around with the testing, the true facts are still untouched.
Read Also: Unknown facts about “Android” that will amaze you
However, just like any other tech innovation, one thing can be said that the primary intention behind introducing Instant apps is to provide ease to users. Let’s find out if it actually will be able to do so or won’t:
1. Ease of access
As we talked about earlier that instant apps can be accessed through links. The user upon clicking on the link will be redirected to a mobile web space where he’d be able to use the app features.
This will undoubtedly avail them of a better experience as they won’t have to go through the entire process of searching and installing the mobile application. Instead, they can simply access the app features with a simple click.
2. Get more creativity
Now that the developers are aware that users have the right to judge the application before installing it, they’ll be more focused on bringing creative applications.
They’ll have to introduce a ‘lite’ version of applications which can provide them better user experience and a prompt service. The users will be able to relish a new experience with this new level of competency that will bring out the creative side of developers.
3. Ensure before using
The users will no longer have to first install the app in order to have the user experience and know the usability. They can get a sneak into many features of the application, and once they are satisfied with it, they can install the application for future use.
While on one hand, this will be benefitting them with the power to choose the right application, on the other hand, this will also be helpful for the developers as the retention rate will find a better position. Reason being only the satisfied users will be downloading the application and the chances of abandoning the application will subsequently decline.
4. Save space
Though this isn’t related to the in-app user experience with the introduction of Android Instant Apps the users will be saving a lot of space on their smartphones.
They can get rid of those unnecessary app downloads in order to find the best application. However, we can presume that this user benefit will force the developers and enterprises to come up with applications that not only serve with better user experience but also the ones that consume less space without compromising with features.
5. Save time while searching
Till date, if a user wants to download an application he has to surf through a massive list in order to find ‘that particular mobile app’.
However, with Instant apps, you can either simply Google the application and find it under the app section, or you can simply click on the app link and your smartphone will ask you ‘Whether to open in the browser or in app store’.
At this stage, you can either sue the application by opening it on the web, or you can go to the play store and download the mobile app directly.
6. Easy to share
Sharing a great application with your near and dear ones called for special application till date. However, with the advent of Instant Apps, the applications can be shared with the help of a link.
This means neither your closed ones have to surf through a list to find a particular application, nor they need to install another app so as to share an app.
Conclusion
With the very announcement of Android, Instant Apps came instant curiosity in the hearts of developers and users globally. Now that we recently had the first look of the same we can expect; a better experience for the end-users and a farther reach for the developers and marketers.
While we still can’t confirm the acceptance rate from the developer’s side, as of now we can just hope and have presumptions based on what we saw and envision.
