Google previews, for US developers only, a platform to bring more apps to Gemini and Search
IA en un minuto newsroom · Editor: Jon Elgezabal
In 30 seconds
Google is opening a preview of a platform that lets developers bring their applications to Gemini and to Search. For now the trial is only for developers in the US, with access in phases, and each one chooses whether the app appears in one product or both. There are already more than 50 connected apps, with Adobe and Peloton among the first, and Calm will join.
Google has launched a preview of Connected Apps Platform, a platform where developers can create, test and manage their connected apps in one place. Connected apps are the third-party services that Gemini and Search call on to complete tasks for the user. TechCrunch reports that the preview is open as a beta to US developers who join a waitlist, and that Google has not said when it will reach a wider audience. Google says access will open in stages, with more developers, markets and Google products added over the next few months.
To take part, a developer connects their app to a cloud-hosted MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, or to Android MCP through the AppFunctions APIs, and then registers, tests and submits it through the Google Connected Console. Before the review, the developer picks whether the app will appear in Search, in the Gemini app or in both. After launch, the console shows traffic, latency and error rates, and the developer keeps control of their brand identity through verified logos and authenticated accounts.
Google reports more than 50 connected apps spread across Search and Gemini, covering fields such as productivity, event tickets, health and fitness. Adobe, Experian, Localiza and Peloton are already live in Gemini, and Search will get them over the next few weeks. Calm, the meditation app, is a new partner that will launch in both. TechCrunch adds that Search currently has fewer integrations, including Instacart, Canva, YouTube Music and Yahoo Fantasy Football.
Why it matters · analysis and opinion
Connected apps suggest that part of what is solved today by opening an app or a website may start to be requested inside an assistant. TechCrunch compares this step to SEO, which helped companies show up in search results: now the goal would be to be visible on the web of agents. A company whose service can be booked or bought online can check whether its system could be exposed through an MCP server, which is what Google asks developers to use. With access limited and no date for a general opening, there is no rush to change anything, but it is worth knowing what each competitor offers inside Gemini and Search before customers notice.
Official source: Google · Written with the help of AI: how we make the news
