The newest version of Google’s Chrome browser aims to allow websites to act more like native mobile apps by supporting push notifications from sites — even when the web page is closed. Now, expect to see that new functionality enabled by Facebook, eBay, Pinterest and others.
Chrome 42, just released to Android devices and desktop computers, supports the emerging Push API standard that, in a nutshell, lets websites send push notifications to browser users.
In a post on the official Chromium Blog, Google’s Miguel Garcia and Owen Campbell-Moore write that in the coming weeks, “mobile web users will be able to opt in to receiving push notifications from early adopters including Beyond the Rack, eBay, Facebook, FanSided, Pinterest, Product Hunt, and VICE News.” The key phrase is “opt in:” a description of the new feature says it only works if “the user has granted explicit permission” when they visit the site.
The new push notifications are supported on Chrome running on Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS (not, apparently, Apple’s iOS). But creating them isn’t automatic. Google notes that websites need to do “custom implementation work,” either by themselves or through a service like Roost or Mobify.
Part of the rationale for enabling web-based push notifications when the browser is closed is the proliferation of native mobile apps, many which only seem to exist to enable notifications and home screen icons to extend a site’s presence outside of the browser. The announcement of Chrome 42’s new features acknowledges this: the Android implementation also makes it easier for websites to promote placing a home screen icon on devices.
