Gmail's app for Android may getads after the latest update. An application package file (APK) teardown report of the app's latest 4.6 version by tech website Android Policehas revealed that a new library called 'Ads' has been added and users can save their preferred ads as messages.
Gmail, which had remained ad-free until now in mobile apps, is rolling out this new feature along with the latest capability. The web version of the free email service already features ads, and now this would come to the Android app version as well.
The latest update for Gmail came out a few days back along with the updates for some other apps as well. Though no mention was made by Gmail about the ads feature, a closer examination of the new update brought forth the revelation.
The new update also brings in a cleaner design for conversation view and a number of tweaks such as checkmarks for selecting multiple messages. There are other features such as reminders for users in case there is an unsent mail in the drafts section.
It is not yet certain as to when Google would actually introduce ads via its app.
Advertising forms a bulk of earnings for Google; the company's total advertising revenue in April-June quarter stood at $12 billion, accounting for approximately 85% of its total revenue for the period. Online marketing research firm eMarketer has estimated that 33% of global online ad revenues for 2013 will be spent on Google networks. It also said that Google will take up around 53% of total mobile advertising revenue for 2013.