Making the device cheaper can be achieved by embedding advertisements, which help Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) reduce costs and generate long-term revenue. It works similarly to putting ads on YouTube or websites, and ads on the lock screen are no different.
Google-backed Glance, a subsidiary of InMobi Group, will likely enter the U.S. Reportedly, they are in talks with U.S. carriers to start adding Glance to Android device lock screens within the next two months. They currently service about 400 million smartphones across Asia. Launched in 2019, Glance comes pre-installed on many Android devices to monetise the lock screen by displaying an ad feed even before unlocking smartphones. In India, they have more than 200 million active engagements. Glance was valued at $2 billion for the first 100 million active users and was also funded by Reliance Jio, which launched Jio Phone Next in partnership with Google.
Realme is one of the OEMs that use Glance in their smartphones, and it is expected to be in the U.S. Glance is India’s first unicorn startup. It has also been a significant part of the Android-based custom skin PragtiOS, which comes with Jio Phone Next. Ads are more likely to appear on budget smartphones, while some flagship devices won’t be loaded with Glance. It offers a dynamic lock screen and delivers ads alongside different wallpapers, news headlines, and videos.
The most irritating thing is that you won’t be able to disable Glance permanently. Some potential ways to disable Glance include bypassing content. Realme, Vivo, Motorola, Xiaomi, Oppo, Samsung, OnePlus, and nothing new have Glance. That’s not enough; they also have Android TV integration.