It is no secret that mobile users everywhere are using up more data than ever, but wouldn’t it be nice to actually have a tool that allows people to better manage how their smartphones and tablet devices are consuming mobile data? Google tries to address that with a new, experimental Android mobile app called Triangle.
The Triangle mobile app is actually undergoing testing in the Philippines, and it basically offers three things -- allow users to check their data balance, monitor which other apps are eating away at users’ data allotment, and stop specific apps from consuming data. But wait -- why is the app being tested in a Southeast Asian country? Well for starters, limited data is not much of a problem in major mobile markets like the United States because mobile users are typically availing of unlimited data options. It also helps that bandwidth is made more easily available in America. But in emerging mobile markets (like those in Asia), consumers are often more careful about their mobile data consumption.
Google’s new Triangle app should help those users keep better watch of their mobile data usage. Interestingly, the tech giant has actually tried to develop a mobile data usage management tool before. Some may remember that a year ago, the company integrated a Data Saver feature on its Chrome web browser (the mobile version). Also, it has rolled out data saver tools in some of its mobile devices, including its existing flagship devices, the Pixel and the Pixel XL smartphones.
But with the Triangle mobile app, Android mobile users this time, get to exercise more control. For instance, users can actually customize how much mobile data an individual app is allowed to consume. They can do this by selecting options for time periods (with increments of 10 minutes) or by just choosing “Always.”
Moreover, users of the Triangle app can easily check the prepaid mobile data balance on their wireless service (in the Philippines, Globe and Smart are the two biggest mobile operators). Consumers also get access to data rewards, as offered by Globe and Smart through the Triangle app.
Right now, Google’s Triangle mobile app is made available as a free download on the Google Play Store in the Philippines. It was back in April earlier this year that Google first developed the app, and just last month, it was discussed the tech giant’s online forums. Just to be clear, Triangle is a Google product, not a project from its Area 120 program.
