In recent months, some of the world"s biggest tech companies have been launching alternative versions of their popular apps, designed for emerging markets. Twitter Lite, Facebook"s Messenger Lite, and Microsoft"s Skype Lite are among them; each of these apps has been developed for use in parts of the world where mobile connectivity is patchy and generally far slower than in developed markets, and where data usage can be extremely costly for users on low wages.
Now, Google is testing a new version of its search app, known as "Search Lite". As Android Police reports, the app - which is currently labelled "Search (Test App)" has been made available to users in Indonesia, although it still carries an "experimental" tag within the app itself.
Like other "lite" apps, Search Lite is optimized for use on slower connections, and uses less data than the "standard" search app, as well as supporting more offline features. Users can also opt to limit searches to "lite" web pages, using less data when browsing, as well as being able to switch between languages by swiping left and right within the app.
Google hasn"t made any announcements about its plans to release the app, but if it does launch, it"s likely to be made available in many other markets beyond Indonesia.
Source and image: Android Police