Google may launch its own VPN service for Android

Google may be launching its own VPN service for Android devices, after a new app was spotted by Pocketables, on a Nexus 6 running on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The app in question is called “Google Connectivity Services”( as seen above), but it cannot be launched by normal means, i.e, it will not be accessible from the app drawer or the Play Store app. You can find it from Settings > Apps > All.

The only way to launch the app at the moment is to launch the activity (service) it depends on. This one to be precise:

com.google.android.apps.gcs/com.google.android.apps.gcs.WifiAssistantOptInActivity

You can do so by creating a shortcut for it using a Launcher app which lets you create shortcuts for activities, or by using this free app QuickShortcutMaker. Once you run the app, you will get a screen as seen below, which says that you will be connected to a Google VPN.

Tapping on learn more takes you to a generic Google support page, but tapping on “Got it” will bring up the following screen, which is basically the standard VPN connection request dialog.

Unfortunately Google VPN doesn’t work yet, but the presence of the activity itself could be an indication that it could be launched in the near future. It is unclear whether the service will be a free or paid one, or if at all it would be available globally. It is possible that Google may be launching it exclusively for their own MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) Wireless Service, in the U.S.

source, via