Android Instant App: Open app without Installing (Google IO 2016)

Google Android Instant App is an ultimate solution to use any app without installing it on Android 4.1 and above. It will allow users to open any app by just tapping on a link even if the app isn’t installed.
For example, when you are buying a camera bag, you will be in search results with a list of links to B&HPhoto page with the product you like, but when you open the link, it will appear as app rather than the website. You only need to place orders and complete payments. The company explained that the feature requires partner apps to be built with modules which will mean that user will access only the necessary modules when tapped on an app feature without downloading the entire app. Google said Instant App not only works on links, but also work via NFC when you touch an object or another device.

The Android Instant App will be available to users later this year. In addition to B&H Photo, a number of other apps are being developed with Instant App including BuzzFeed, Medium, Hotel Tonight, Zumper and Disney. In the future, Google will out the SDK once the beta is complete. In the past Google has introduced the app streaming feature for Android. It looks like Google Android Instant App is an expansion of this app streaming feature.

https://youtu.be/cosqlfqrpFA

Mr. Suresh Ganapathy, Google Product Manager, commenting on the Android Instant Apps at Google IO 2016, “Today we’re sharing a preview of a new project that we think will change how people experience Android apps. We call it Android Instant Apps, and it evolves Android apps to be able to run instantly, without requiring installation,” also adds, “It’s the same Android APIs, the same project, the same source code. You’ll simply update your existing Android app to take advantage of Instant Apps functionality.”

Google also confirmed that they are working with a small set of developers for the Instant Apps, and they will gradually expand the access soon.

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