Android instant Apps and Google Play Instant

What is instant Apps?   

A Google Android instant app is a small software program that enables end users to test out a portion of a native Android app without installing it on a device. Instant apps, although they run like local apps, are native containers with access to a device's hardware. Because end users do not install them, instant apps do not take up storage on the device.

#Google Play Instant

Native Android apps, without the installation
With Google Play Instant, people can use an app or game without installing it first. Increase engagement with your Android app or gain more installs by surfacing your instant app across the Play Store and Google Play Games app.

Android’s new app publishing format, the Android App Bundle, makes it easier than ever to offer a Google Play Instant experience. Starting from the Android Studio 3.3 beta release, you can build and publish one app bundle artifact to Google Play containing both instant and feature modules. Build instant games easily with Cocos and Unity plug-ins.

Google Play Instant is open to all app and game developers.

How do instant apps work?

When a user clicks on an instant app’s URL – whether through a link, banner or otherwise – that user will be sent directly into a specific section of the app. This is possible because the app has been split up into modules, meaning only the code needed to display that module is downloaded. This means that an instant app is still technically downloaded onto the device, but this works much like a mobile browser because the app is cached once it’s closed.

For example, let’s say you’re looking for a new television. It’s unlikely that you shop for televisions on a regular basis, so you probably don’t have an e-commerce app purely for that purpose. However, if you browse Google for the model of your choice, you can be deep linked into an app’s product page for that item. Only the code for that product page was downloaded, so you can seamlessly enter the app, complete the purchase at your leisure and leave the app without needing to uninstall.

Instant apps will only work for apps published on the Play Store, and can be used on devices with Jellybean OS (2013) and above.

Are instant apps optional for Android users?

All Android users can toggle instant apps on or off in their settings. Android instant apps also require Android Lollipop (API 21) or higher to function.

Adjust and instant apps

From user behavior to the nature of apps, Instant Apps have the potential to profoundly change the mobile industry as we know it. Currently, Adjust are the only mobile measurement provider able to track instant Apps This means we can provide our clients with tracking for a larger piece of the market than ever before. So, if you’re currently testing Instant Apps and want to be able to track them, please get in contact with us to start a trial. Our sales and support teams would also be pleased to discuss Instant Apps, and how to track them, in greater depth.