Arc Search, the mobile browser, became generally available on Thursday following its beta release for Android in October.
The developer, The Browser Company, is known for its desktop browser Arc. To reach more users and embrace AI-based search, the company launched Arc Search for iOS earlier this year. The new version could expand Arc Search's reach to millions of Android users.
When the company launched Arc Search on Android, its features were limited, including Browse for Me, ad blocking, and automatic tab archiving. The stable version offers voice search, adaptable widgets, home screen icons, landscape mode support, native language browsing, and full support for Android 12.
The company says more than 100,000 people downloaded Arc Search through the Play Store within weeks of the open beta.
The Browser Company promises to continue releasing updates to its Android version, but its focus has shifted to developing new products.
Browser Company CEO Josh Miller said in a video last month that although Arc is the current version, the startup, valued at $550 million, is looking to develop new products that will appeal to a broader audience. He said he is considering developing it.
Some users complain that Arc is difficult to learn and use, and that they lose their audience.
In a conversation with The Verge, Miller said that despite a fourfold increase in users, the company understands that Arc is not a mainstream product.
The Browser Company hasn't fully revealed details about what the final product will look like. Miller claimed this would allow users to “move around the internet” and get things done. The company also wants to build a powerful command bar that will help drive the right results through AI. The company has shown off some of these features either as concepts or as small feature releases within the existing Arc browser.
The challenge for the startup is to balance Arc power users while developing a product with broader appeal.