Google on Thursday unveiled Google Go, a new app built to support Android devices with one gigabyte Random Access Memory (RAM) and below.
The Country Director of Google, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, unveiled the app in Lagos.
According to Ehimuan-Chiazor, the Google Go is available as at today in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa through the Google Play Store.
She said that it would come pre-installed on all Android Oreo (Go edition) devices and would be available for devices running Android v4.3 (Jelly Bean) and above.
“Google Go provides a lighter, faster way to search, with everything you need just a tap away.
“As more Africans come online every year, using mobile phones as their primary and sometimes only internet device, online is not somewhere they ‘go’ anymore but where they live, connecting with people, places and things that matter to them.
“Weak data connectivity, high data costs and low RAM or storage space often makes it hard for people to get the most out of the internet; Google Go is built to handle these challenges,’’ she said.
The official said that more than 70 per cent of Africans connected to the internet to get great experience and have information at their fingertips.
“Google Go is designed to address these issues and provide a seamless experience irrespective of the device or network the user is on,” she said.
The country director said that, with Google Go, one would easily search for information or see what was trending.
“Taking up less than 5MB, the app is quick to download without using much data, and it takes up minimal space on your phone.
“When there is no internet access, Google Go retries failed search requests in the background and lets you know as soon as the results are ready. Web pages load quickly, even in data-saving mode or on 2G connections.
“Google has multiple points to search, but Google Go is built to support Android devices with one gigabyte RAM,” she said.(NAN)