Google has unveiled a new developer platform that lets businesses plug their services directly into Gemini and Google Search, widening a program that until now required close cooperation with the search giant. The Connected Apps Platform was announced on October 28, 2026, according to TechCrunch and 9to5Google.
The move matters because it turns Google's AI products into a distribution channel for third-party apps. Instead of opening an app to complete a task, users can ask Gemini or Search to do it through a connected service, a shift Google is betting will define how people find and use apps on the agentic web.
How the Google Connected Apps Platform works
Developers integrate with a cloud-hosted MCP (Model Context Protocol) server or Android MCP using the AppFunctions APIs, then register, test and submit their app through the new Google Connected Console. According to 9to5Google, Google bills the setup as a way to "build once and reach high-intent users."
Once live, developers choose whether their app appears in Search, in the Gemini app, or both. The console also lets them track traffic, latency and error rates, and keep control of brand identity such as verified logos and authenticated accounts.
- Cloud-hosted MCP server or Android MCP with AppFunctions APIs
- Registration, testing and submission via the Google Connected Console
- Choose distribution: Search, Gemini app, or both
- Performance tracking for traffic, latency and error rates
