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Google VPN Service Spotted in Android 5.1 Lollipop: Report

Google VPN Service Spotted in Android 5.1 Lollipop: Report

By Hitesh Arora | Updated: 16 March 2015 15:34 IST

Google might be planning its own VPN service for Android users, if recently reported details about changes in Android 5.1 Lollipop are to be believed.

As first spotted by Pocketables blog on Thursday, Google has included a new system application - "Google Connectivity Services" - in the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop OS build, which incorporates company's own VPN service option dubbed Google VPN.

If you are a Nexus device owner with Android 5.1 Lollipop installed, you can reportedly find the Google Connectivity Services app in Settings > Apps > All. Users however cannot open the app from here, and will have to use a shortcut creator app, such as QuickShortcutMaker, to launch the app via the activity "com.google.android.apps.gcs/com.google.android.apps.gcs.WifiAssistantOptInActivity".

Upon launching the Google Connectivity Services app and connecting to an open Wi-Fi network, users are said to see a Google VPN pop-up that reads, "To help protect you on open Wi-Fi networks, your data will be transmitted securely through a Google VPN," along with two options - "learn more" and "got it".

Clicking the "Learn more" button redirects to a standard Google support page, whereas "Got it" shows a VPN connection setup screen that however is not yet functional. The setup screen reads, "Google Wi-Fi Assistant wants to set up a VPN connection that allows it to monitor network traffic. Only accept if you trust the source. [Key symbol] appears at the top of your screen when VPN is active."

As yet, there has been no announcement of the service by Google; and neither does the Android 5.1 changelog thus far mention anything about it.

During MWC 2015, Google's Sundar Pichai had briefly mentioned about company's future plans of operating its own mobile phone services in the United States, and said that Google is already in talks with telecom companies.

"We are actually working with carrier partners. You will see us announce it in the coming months," said Pichai. Pichai declined to give further details, however he added that "We [Google] don't intend to be a network operator at scale."

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