Google Announces 'YouTube Go' App for Offline Video Streaming and Sharing

By Angel Soleil / 1475003936
(Photo : Jesse Grant / Getty Images) Google has launched its "YouTube Go" app in India.

"YouTube Go" is a new app launched by Google in Delhi which enables mobile users to stream videos in areas with limited or no connectivity at all. The app is part of the "Next Billion" program which aims to connect India's next billion people to the internet.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in The Economic Daily that "[in] an increasingly mobile-first world, India gives us early insights into the future of the Internet."

India is one of the countries that suffer from data constraints due to slow or limited internet connectivity, and "YouTube Go" is designed to address the issue, at least in terms of video streaming. By default, streaming a video online could be near to impossible with a network as slow as 2G, but Google promises that the features offered by the app can reach devices even if it seems to be off-limits.

First of all, "YouTube Go" offers users with video recommendations on the home screen based on what is trending and popular. A video preview is then loaded with a choice to select the video resolution and identify the file size to help users decide if they would opt to watch the video or download save it for offline viewing. The app also allows video sharing via Bluetooth, to save users the hassle of needing the internet.

Users in India can now sign up to test "YouTube Go," but Google has not made a formal announcement about when the app will be rolled out, or if it plans to make it accessible across the globe.