Bringing its apps to the Play Store is a good move, because now Google only has to update the apps to add new features or changes, instead of doing it via Android OS updates.
It’s also helpful for users whose phones are not on stock Android, but want the full Google experience. For example, if you own the Samsung Galaxy S6 and dislike Samsung’s Dialer app, now you can replace it with Google’s. The same goes for users on all devices that are running
Unfortunately, the Phone and Contact apps are only available for devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. If you’re one of the lucky ones with a phone that’s rocking the latest version of
The apps themselves don’t seem to be all that different from the current ones, but the Contacts app lists “streamlined contact editing” and “bug fixes and improvements,” in the ‘What’s New’ section. The Phone app doesn’t come with any new features.
Google has been separating its apps from the overall operating system for a while now, including the stock Camera and Clock app. It stands to reason that the company will continue bringing its apps to the Play Store for everyone’s enjoyment.
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