Google Search on Android Now Prompts Relevant App Installs in Results

Google is introducing a new feature to its mobile search results on Android that will now prompt users to install an app if it has relevant content to the user's search query.

Until now, Google's mobile searches on Android displayed information from apps that were indexed by the company to users who had the app installed, and were currently signed-in to Google. However, the latest addition will show recommendations from apps that are not installed on the device, and alongside show the option to install such apps right from the search result page - with an app install button.

If users decide to install the app, they will be redirected to Google Play, and once the app is installed, it will automatically open to the relevant content.

(Also see: Google Now Will Soon Show Information From Any App, With New Open API)

The latest feature is aimed at helping mobile app developers, which will now benefit further from the expanded App Indexing program.

Announcing the news Google on its Webmaster Central blog said, "Starting this week, people searching on Google can also discover your app if they haven't installed it yet."

"With the addition of these install links, we are starting to use App Indexing as a ranking signal for all users on Android, regardless of whether they have your app installed or not. We hope that Search will now help you acquire new users, as well as re-engage your existing ones," added Google.

The company for the first time also revealed that it now has 30 billion links within apps indexed. Speaking with TechCrunch, Google's Rajan Patel said the company was also looking at options to expand the app indexing and app install suggestions to beyond the Android platform.

Google alongside also announced that it is updating the algorithms that display URLs in search results to reflect the name of the website rather than the domain name. With the move, Google's mobile search results are hoped to be more readable for the user, and will also showing the URL structure of the page in a 'breadcrumbs-like format'.

"Today we're updating the algorithms that display URLs in the search results to better reflect the names of websites, using the real-world name of the site instead of the domain name, and the URL structure of the sites in a breadcrumbs-like format," said Google. The company adds the site name change is US-only for now and breadcrumbs are rolling out worldwide.