Android Instant Apps — A Leading App Development Trend

Android Instant Apps

Have you ever uninstalled or abandoned your newly downloaded apps due to their little value to your needs? Or, have you ever been in a situation where you have to delete some apps to install new ones? Do you feel frustrated? — I bet that you have experienced these at least once. According to a public statistic of 25% of apps being abandoned after the first use, it has caused a tough challenge for individual developers and businesses for a long time. Furthermore, to experience a mobile app, you have to download it in advance, and it consumes much time if you need to test out which apps can meet your requirements. Therefore, Google has introduced an Instant App for this unsatisfied experience elimination. Last but not least, only available on Android — Instant App development, an outstanding invention to solve the dilemma, is a top app trend that benefits users and developers.

Android Development Background

First released in 2008, Android OS has become the most notable platform for touchscreen mobile devices, attracting over 3 billion monthly active users recorded in May 2021. It is developed by Open Handset Alliance and sponsored by Google as in commerce; therefore, Android has received support from Google, with over 70% of it operating on Google’s ecosystem.

According to Google’s announcement in 2020, Android developers have gained $80 billion in revenue. With a market share of over 72% as of September 2021, it is the world-most used operating system for mobile app development. Furthermore, Android proposes a wide range of choices of models, prices, and versions.

What is Android app development?

Android Application Development, a multitasking open-source operating system for touchable devices, is used to create apps to run on Android platform. It is also a friendly and flexible platform for both users and developers. Specifically, it can be written in many different software languages, including Kotlin, Java, and C++, with the support of SDK. Besides, it allows end-users to customize everything to their tastes, such as changing appearances, themes, and ringtones, by downloading apps on Google Play. Furthermore, all apps need to adapt the criteria of Google and Android OS versions before official publications. Last but not least, it likewise permits progressive release or testing versions.

Android versions

Over 13 years of development, Android has released several versions to enhance performance and functionality. The security fixes support is available only for the latest versions starting from Android Oreo to Android 12. Below is the list of Android versions that developed over its history.

1. Android 1.0
2. Petit Four — Android 1.1
3. Cupcake — Android 1.5
4. Donut — Android 1.6
5. Eclair — Android 2.0
6. Froyo — Android 2.2
7. Gingerbread — Android 2.3
8. Honeycomb — Android 3.0
9. Ice Cream Sandwich — Android 4.0
10. Jelly Bean — Android 4.1
11. Kitkat — Android 4.4
12. Lollipop — Android 5.0
13. Marshmallow — Android 6.0
14. Nougat — Android 7.0
15. Oreo — Android 8.0
16. Pie — Android 9.0
17. Quince Tart — Android 10
18. Red Velvet Cake — Android 11
19. Snow Cone — Android 12

Read more about Android Version History in wiki.

Android Instant Apps — Top App Development Trend 2021

Android has had solid innovation throughout its development. Therefore, every release unlocks new capabilities and eliminates potential errors from previous versions. Furthermore, acknowledging the inconveniences that users may experience, Google has created and introduced an instant app, only available on the Android platform. With the hope of relieving pressure and bringing customers’ satisfaction, the Instant App has become a trending Android app development of the year.

What is an Android Instant App?

Android Instant App is a mobile application developed on the Android platform and published via Google Play Instant. Specifically, it allows users to experience the native app’s contents without the entire app installation in advance. Therefore, it can save space for internal storage and eliminate frustrating feelings. In a word, it enhances the user experience and fosters Android’s position in the competition. Furthermore, users can reach out to Android Instant Apps via URLs. In fact, it is running as a web-browsing with a native application experience more than a download app. Without any re-navigations or downloading requirements, Android Instant Apps are believed to be a remarkable milestone for seamless accessibility among features and a new step of the online experience era. Last but not least, it would help enhance performance, attract users, boost positive feedback, and increase the number of installations for your product.

Android Instant Apps Benefits

Android Instant App development benefits are even extraordinary beyond your imagination.

Visibility

As a notable benefit for business growth, Android Instant Apps offer the most incredible visibility. In fact, it proposes advantages for appearing on the top of app stores. Specifically, it helps drive attention and attract users to click onto the “try now” button. As a result, your app revenue will grow, and you can enhance your position. Moreover, your business goals are achieved.

Breakthrough Opportunities

Sale volumes and positions are always two factors in a business development evaluation. In fact, it is challenging for businesses that do not have relevant growth to overtake the competition and occupy the prime spot. Thanks to Android Instant Apps development, a breakthrough opportunity has come to them. With greater visibility and time savings, they give businesses the chance to break apart from the pack and gain a competitive advantage.

Great App Advertising Opportunities

The significant influence of advertisement on business growth is undeniable. In a word, an excellent promoting strategy can gain the products’ popularity and attract buyers/users. Android Instant Apps are best made for a promotion opportunity. With its small size and availability via URLs, it breaks playing fields’ restrictions as searchable components featured on multi-platforms, such as social media, websites, and ads apps. As a result, it helps businesses avoid the difficulty of ranking high in the app store.

Full-fledged Customers

As mentioned above, Android Instant App provides an opportunity to trial experience the native app before officially downloading a full version. Thanks to the given chance, users who are satisfied with the application will become full-fledged customers. In contrast, those less engaged in the app’s contents can save their time and phone storage. In a word, it proposes high conversion rates and reliable data-driven for later analysis.

Storage Savings

Storage has always been a sensitive factor to users. Every new phone always comes with various offers of storage space; obviously, large storage space is more expensive. In fact, it is beyond the expectation to ask users to have the latest smartphone with the most extensive phone storage. However, apps that acquire a lot of space create pressure on users. In addition, no one wants to delete some old apps to install a new one. Therefore, the appearance of Android Instant Apps has helped to relieve this pressure. Users can experience functions without storage consumption.

What is Google Play Instant?

Support launching on Android Lollipop and later versions, Google Play Instant allows access to native apps and games without installation. In fact, Android Instant Apps give benefits to ads and games apps. With the rise of gaming installations from Android users, Google Play Instant was once introduced as a tool that users can find Android Instant Apps to experience content before downloading a complete application. In a word, it offers a native-try-before-purchasing option to avoid unnecessary and inconvenient tasks.

Technical Development Requirements

Due to its bringing benefits, it would be a huge loss to your business if you don’t invest in Android Instant App development. However, there are some notable technical requirements that you should keep in mind.

Google Account Settings

Since it is not available as a default installation, users must activate the functions on Google account settings then enable c permissions.

App Size

• Required features
• Total APK size: ≤ 15MB.
• Storage consumption: ≤150MB.
• Best practices
• Speed: ≤15s via an LTE and 4G connection.

Pre-registration

• Required features: A clear installation mark or pre-registration button must be displayed using one of following appearances.
• Firstly, a diligent button displayed throughout the experience.
• Secondly, a constant button displayed on the principal screen.
• Lastly, a switchable button displayed between activities during experience.
• Best practices
• Clear labels for independent icons.

In-App Navigation

• Required features
• Enables Android supporting button.
• App exit: ≤2 taps.
• Best practices
• Confirmation prompt before leaving the app.

Ads Display

• Required features
• Use only unobtrusive banner advertisements.
• Do not interrupt the user experience.
• Do not design like in-app navigation buttons to avoid frustration.

In-App Purchases

• Required features
• Transaction support.
• Support in-app items transformation to installed apps.

Testing

As a robust and promising mobile app development, Android Instant App testing has played a significant role in producing solid results. Furthermore, it ensures the smooth operating of all features without a full-app installation.

Accessibilities

Without the requirements of the installation, Android Instant Apps can be accessed from an URL. Specifically, it will redirect to your phone’s web and provide a better on-phone user experience. In a word, users can experience the app via your mobile web and access features per single click. It proposes a sense of familiarity throughout the experience.

Creativity

Besides the excellent accessibility, creativity is one of the factors that have users’ attention. Acknowledging this requirement, mobile developers have introduced a lite version that ensures applications pass Google Play instant testing procedure to give a superior client experience.

Space savings

Android Instant App has been proven for its storage savings. To ensure the quality, newly developed Android Instant Apps must go through the Google Play instant strict testing process. If qualified and published on Google Play Instant, it will operate smoothly and consume no space on your phone. On the other hand, the apps won’t be available on Google Play Instant store if it is unqualified.

Engagement

The engagement between users and the app can be loose after the initial requirement of app use. Since Android Instant Apps have reduced the effort of users, it increases app engagement and saves much time for users.

Value Gain

Thanks to its ease of access, users can find the most suitable apps that meet their requirements. Once users download your app after the trial experience, it represents their satisfaction with the products and decreases the abandonment rates.

Notable features of Android Instant Apps

Thanks to its offered benefits, Android Instant Apps are best-made for Ads and Games. Without installation requirements, it provides an opportunity to experience games in advance and have your advertisement noticed by potential customers.

Ads

As one of the instant Android app developing requirements, the product needs to adapt the required features before officially launching. It pops up on the screen yet doesn’t interrupt the user experience. As a result, it catches the users’ attention and attracts further approaches to the advertisement.

Games Applications

According to an app revenue report, 78% of gamers were Android users and generated over $3.1 billion as of 2020. It goes without saying how competitive the game app development industry is; therefore, the advantage of the native app experience before installation offers a breakthrough opportunity for businesses to overtake the competition.

Android Instant Apps pros and cons

Pros

As the iconic advantage of Android Instant Apps, users can experience games and apps before installation. In a word, it breaks them free of being afraid of running out of space, removes the barrier of entry, and enhances business download streams. Additionally, it benefits e-commerce through a convenient and easy-to-use online transaction system. Besides, since user experience has improved significantly, it also helps increase the traffic and discoverability of your business. Last but not least, with the support from Google, users can experience Android Instant Apps from the Android Lollipop version.

Cons

Due to one of its app developing requirements, small size becomes a restriction for implementing all features on Android Instant Apps. Some features are incompatible due to the lack of support for third-party from Google. Therefore, even though performance is pretty good, it can never perform as smoothly as native apps. Additionally, it requires much time for implementing features because developers must rearrange the project or even create separate modules.

However, with the bold innovation from Google, we can expect enhancements to eliminate these disadvantages, such as the increase in app size, older version support.

Conclusion

From a software developer’s perspective, Android Instant Apps are the best solution for ads running or commercialized games. Specifically, it allows you to earn money from advertisements and users’ download rates. Furthermore, it is also a good choice for app events and business apps demo.

Briefly, Android Instant Apps will be a top app development trend in Google’s ecosystem. Thanks to Android Instant Apps’ benefits, it will be the most popular application that optimizes user experience without spending time on app installation.