Connected Apps are the third-party integrations that let Search and the Gemini app do things inside other services. Google says there are more than 50 so far, and Adobe, Experian, Localiza and Peloton are live in Gemini, with Search coming in the next few weeks. Calm is coming to both.
The new platform lets outside developers build their own. You integrate through a cloud-hosted MCP server, or through Android MCP using the AppFunctions APIs, then register, test and submit the app in the Google Connected Console. Before review you pick Search, the Gemini app or both. Once it's live, the console shows traffic, latency and error rates, and you manage verified logos and authenticated accounts there.
It's a preview with phased access. Google says more developers, markets and Google products will come over the next few months; sign-up and docs are at developers.google.com/connected-apps.