Google has launched its Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android devices that allows users to access their computer right from their smartphone. The new announcement has many wondering if it could mean the death of LogMeIn.
The move has long been in the works, as tech observers and experts had expected the company to roll out something similar for weeks now, and Google finally acquiesced to get their new app onto the market. The new app is available on any Android phone app store.
It updates and improves the Remote Desktop app that had previously allowed users to share screens, but this innovation allows full access to one's computer, which means that if a file is not found on your phone, it can be downloaded and accessed via the new app.
Amazon has been pushing out remote access apps and software, and Google's entrance into the sector should be a boost for users wanting to increase their access points to their devices, including computers, all from their smartphone.
"With the release of the Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android, we're making it possible for you to do the same thing from your Android device," Google writes on its Chrome blog. It's also compatible with Apple computers, the company says.
"If you haven't used Chrome Remote Desktop in the past, you can get started by enabling your Windows or Mac machine for remote access through the Chrome Web Store app. Next, simply launch the Android app on your phone or tablet, tap on the computer's name and start using your remote machine as if you were sitting right in front of it," continues the blog post.
The service is free to use and after downloading the software on both a desktop and a smartphone, through PIN protection, users will be able to have complete access from wherever they are. It is a move that could see other similar enterprising companies feel the heat, including LogMeIn, which had largely cornered the market until other larger companies such as Amazon and now Google, entered the playing field.
The question many have is how the accessibility will function on a day-to-day basis for users. It has yet to be studied on how often users would need such connectivity to their less mobile devices.
