During the time when companies are compelling customers to download App, Google has announced a new project where it is integrating its search results with app which means that a user can surf through an app via Google’s search engine without installing the app itself. The move is in the wake of many companies are going app-only or giving exclusivity to their app users.
Here is an image below which explains the functionality of this new feature:
The app search is limited to 9 apps only which includes HotelTonight, Weather, My Horoscope, Useful Knots, New York Subway, Daily Horoscope, Gormey, Chimani and Visual Anatomy Free. The requirements of the search functionality is a Wi-Fi connection and an Android 5.0 Lollipop O.S.
According to Google Engineering Manager Jennifer Lin:
“you’re also going to start seeing an option to “stream” some apps you don’t have installed, right from Google Search, provided you’re on good Wifi.”
How does it works?
Let’s say you wish to book a hotel with HotelTonight app but you do not have it installed in your device. Either you can go on Playstore, download the app, search for the result and book your room. Else, you can go simply on google and search and book your room from HotelTonight app directly. You can not only shuffle through listing and options in the app, but also book yourself a room and all this while the app is not installed on your phone.
Most probably India would be its next testing ground, reason being that India is potentially a very large market and an emerging smartphone power with millions and millions of smartphone users. Ecommerce could be a industry targeted for beta.
