One of the most interesting items I noticed while digging around in Android 5.1 on my Google Nexus 6 by Motorola was a new system application called “Google Connectivity Services.” To find this app, just navigate to Settings > Apps > All, scroll down, and there it is:
It is possible to launch this app, but it takes even more digging. You need to actually launch this activity:
com.google.android.apps.gcs/com.google.android.apps.gcs.WifiAssistantOptInActivity
To do so, I employed the app QuickShortcutMaker (everyone should have that app installed – seriously). Using QuickShortcutMaker, I placed a shortcut to Google Connectivity Services on my homescreen and launched the app from there. I was greeted with a screen that read, “To help protect you on open Wi-Fi networks, your data will be transmitted securely through a Google VPN.”
Clicking the “Learn more” button takes you to this link, which currently redirects to a standard Google support page:
https://support.google.com/mobile/?p=google_settings_VPN
Clicking “Got it” takes you to the standard VPN connection request screen:
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to actually connect to any VPN, using an open WiFi network, a secured WiFi network, or LTE. It’s unclear when Google will launch this feature, whether it will be open to everyone or just certain types of users, or if Google might discontinue it, like it did with App Opps.
It’s even possible that this could be something Google plans to launch with its upcoming wireless service. If Google intends to use Sprint, T-Mobile, and WiFi – and the rumors point to all three – then customers will need to know that their communications over open WiFi networks are secure.
In any case, this is definitely something I’ll be keeping my eye on!