Android Instant Apps Platform to Launch Without Installation

Android Instant Apps Platform to Launch Without Installation

Written by Deepak Bhagat, In Technology, Published On
November 3, 2020
, 628 Views
Last modified on December 14th, 2021

Android Instant Apps allow applications for the Android platform to launch instantly and without the need for installation. Users only need to click the link.

Developers will need to make sure their applications are “modulated” before they can offer the service on Jelly Bean or later.

Many have already called Instant App the top news of the recent Google I / O conference. But what will be the consequences of such an initiative? Let’s try to figure it out.

Benefits/Advantages Of Android Instant Apps Platform

NFC

The crux of the discussion regarding customer experience using iBeacons is about applications. Marketers can only use this technology through already installed applications, and the main task is to provide truly useful functionality.

Until now, iBeacons has not been a successful project. But in the Android world, the same fate befell NFC.

Yes, NFC has other use cases: downloading an app or opening a web page (requires a click). But the problem still exists – the user must trust that there will be no difficulty with the interaction experience.

Practical implementation of NFC has not always been successful. But a good example is the parking meter. The Instant App is launched using NFC and is followed by the native Android environment.

Payments

One of the advantages of the Instant App is the ability for customers to pay for their purchase using Android Pay.

This is what makes the above example (parking meter) all the more interesting. The payment details are already saved, so the payment process is faster. In other words, Android users can make in-app purchases they have never installed before, which opens up opportunities for additional services. And in the foreseeable future, thanks to the Instant App, mobile commerce can become much more convenient.

Search Apps

There is no need to go to the app store and wait for a download, then cancel it.

Marketing metrics such as the percentage of customers who use the app after a certain amount of time will improve as the preview of the app is now available to users. they can immediately decide whether they like the app or not. People will be able to share Instant App links with friends on social networks or other messengers.

Application developers like  app development texas, in turn, have the ability to send links to customers via email or SMS.

UX

The apps have an immersive experience, they rely on the functionality of smartphones and, in general, they have a beautiful design. But the problem is that a significant percentage of users simply don’t install new apps.

This is evidenced by data from a recent study by Ofcom, which showed that 42% of users do not install new applications at all.

Instant Apps offers modular functionality that lets you forget about bad mobile UX forever.
The design principles that apply to these kinds of applications are slightly different. But be that as it may, the end goal remains the same, namely: to develop a user experience for users.
As noted, native apps have more gesture interactions than web apps (except for scrolling long web pages). Native app designers are more likely to use swipes than taps to switch screens. And if everything is done correctly, the interface will react to user actions like a physical object, like, for example, paper pages when flipping through a book.

Not that gestures are completely absent in web applications, they are, but they are few. For example, drag-and-drop functionality was available to client / server designers even before jQuery UI. In general, there is a time and place for all kinds of opportunities.

Web applications

  • Available for most devices (only a little work is required on responsive design);
  • The only thing you need to “download” or “install” is the URL. Updating to the latest version occurs on every page load;
  • The app is easy to find with a web search and is generally more suitable for collecting data.

Native applications

  • They have such features as inertial scrolling;
  • No need to download every time you download;
  • The app store verification process ensures no spam;
  • Easy access to accelerometers, cameras, GPS and other device features;
  • The ability to exchange data (contact information and photos) with other applications;
  • Launch by clicking on the icon on the main screen of the mobile device;
  • Usually more allow users to interact with the data.

The types of applications we describe have similarities, especially when it comes to design. For both native and web applications, designers need to be mindful of considerations such as consumer profile and user flow.

Customer Service

On top of that, the Instant App opens up new opportunities for brand interactions. An employee of a bank, for example, can send a client a link to a loan calculator in the application.

Web Apps or Native Apps?

Which is better: native or web applications – the discussion continues. Some talk about the natural speed of native applications and the ability to do without browsers. Others point to the fact that web applications update much faster, their versatility and ease of use.
The complexities associated with web application development languages (HTML, CSS and JavaScript) are less complex than with Java and Swift. However, Java and Swift have more options for interactions that cannot always be implemented in JavaScript. A working internet connection is required for web applications. Native applications require specific operating systems. Web applications can be responsive. Native apps (at least some of them) are ideal for custom screen sizes. In general, the pros and cons can be enumerated indefinitely, only one thing is clear: neither of these two options has a clear advantage over the other. And that’s not bad.
The same goes for judicious use of colors, typography and layouts. Prototyping is also used in the development of these applications .

People need applications to get information or perform certain actions, and they don’t really care how the application was built or how they will access it. UX designers can apply similar principles to both types of applications. The interface should be clear and practical. The Material design principles described by Google can be used regardless of context. Web applications are dominated by their unique properties.

So what should we give preference to native or web applications? In general, both may be appropriate – after all, applications are created for people, not platforms.

Web development will be popular in certain areas, while native development is more suitable for things like games. Native apps seem to be safer than the web for financial instruments, but again, browsers are improving and this may well change in the future.

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