Google has released a new app Datally to help users of Android devices in Nigeria control and maximise data usage. The free app, available via the Google Play Store, runs on smartphones with Android 5.0 Lollipop and higher Android mobile operating systems. Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, Google Nigeria's Country Director said the app was the result of input from Google's Next Billion Users team regarding data constraints in the country.
Nigerians continue to bemoan the high cost of data in the country. "They do not understand where their data is going, nor do they feel like they can control allocating data to the apps they really care about," Google stated. The company believes the new app will empower users to manage their data more effectively on their smartphones by accessing four key features: data saver, data saver bubble, personalised alerts and Wi-Fi finder.
"Introducing Datally into the Nigerian smartphone market will help users understand how to control their mobile data better," said Ehimuan-Chiazor. "Google tested Datally in the Philippines for most of 2017, and the insights from the product tests there shaped the final app. The user research showed that people testing the app saved up to 30% of their mobile data, depending on the way they used Datally," she added.
Similarly, Josh Woodward, in an interview with Reuters noted that the App lists data consumption by app and enables users to control which apps get data and which does not by shutting off data transmissions by Apps.
It also provides a directory of nearby public Wi-Fi networks that includes user commentary on their quality and safety. According to the company, if anyone connects to a Wi-Fi and end up losing documents or have their devices hacked, the App shares such history with you when you visit such place so you could stay safe.
After about two years of being in the pipeline due to market study, bait testing and background check, Datally helps to spot duplicate files which will also save space on low cost devices which may not have more than 4GB RAM.
