Internet giant Google has officially launched the YouTube Go app, about six months after the initial announcement.



The app enables users to watch videos in areas with poor Internet connectivity. It also allows users to share videos with friends nearby. The app has been launched in beta and will be launched to a wider audience early next year.

"Today, after months of expanded testing and refinement, we are happy to announce that we are making the beta version of YouTube Go available for download on the Google Play Store in India," the company said in a statement.



YouTube said it plans to gradually roll out YouTube Go to more and more people over the next few months, getting their feedback and improving the product before launching it widely early next year.

"The app is designed to be offline first and improve the experience of watching videos on a slower network; it gives you more control over data usage, by providing choice and transparency into the amount of data spent on streaming or saving videos," it said.



"YouTube Go will also allow users to preview videos before they save or watch the content as well as choose the resolution when saving or streaming videos, so as to control the amount of data they spend on that video. Some things we’ve learned in the run-up to this beta release include making the home screen fresher and more relevant for users, so they can find amazing videos easily." the company said in a statement





"We’ve also worked hard behind the scenes to make sharing videos with nearby friends an even more seamless experience, and ensuring that the app works well across a wide range of phones and connectivity" it added.

Video consumption in India has grown at a massive pace over the past year, especially after the launch of free data services by telecom operator Reliance Jio under its promotional offers.



(With PTI inputs)