The Browser Company Launches Arc Search Beta for Android
The Browser Company, the innovative startup behind the popular alternative web browser Arc, has officially announced the launch of Arc Search for Android in open beta. This move signifies the company’s commitment to become a cross-platform app for users across various devices.
Arc had previously been available on Apple devices and recently expanded to Windows before making its way to Android. The company conducted extensive testing on the Arc Search for Android, with 18,000 users participating in a closed beta program for nearly four weeks prior to the public release.
Earlier in the year, the company introduced Arc Search for iPhone, focusing on search as a primary function. One of the key features of the app, “Browse for Me,” has now been incorporated into the Android version as well. This feature uses an AI-powered algorithm to simplify search results by filtering out irrelevant information from multiple web pages.
Despite some criticism surrounding the implications of AI-powered search tools on smaller websites, The Browser Company CEO Josh Miller assured listeners in a recent episode of the Decoder podcast that the company is working on improving citations and promoting outbound links to support media companies and publishers.
In addition to an ad-blocker for ads, pop-ups, and banners, the Android version of Arc Search also includes a tab auto-archiving feature. The company plans to make the Android app generally available this fall, with more features to be added over time.
While the Android version may not currently include all the features found in the iOS version, such as pinch to summarize and call to ask, the app has already been downloaded 1.6 million times on iOS according to Sensor Tower.
Earlier this year, The Browser Company successfully raised $50 million at a valuation of $550 million. Despite not generating revenue at the moment, Miller hinted at potential future monetization plans for the 2.0 products to cater to businesses and individuals.
