Android Instant Apps is a game-changer for the mobile Web. Announced at Google I/O today, Instant Apps lets developers take advantage of modules that allow mobile Web users to use an application without actually installing it.
When clicking a link, Google Play runs the app instantly by only fetching the pieces of the app you need at that moment.
The first example showed the user clicking a Buzzfeed Video link to view a recipe and being transported to the appropriate part of the application — all in a span of about two seconds.
In another example, the presenter used B&H’s Android app to show a complete search to purchase cycle of a camera bag on the company’s app. No app install took place and after a total of three clicks, and about 30 seconds, the demonstrator has purchased a new camera bag.
The demo was done in real-time, and on an Android device running version 4.4 KitKat. Once released, it’s expected to be backwards compatible, and will run on any device running Jellybean or newer.
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Google expects to roll out Android Instant Apps by the end of the year.
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