Instant installation of apps

A method for installation of software applications on a network-connected device, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a processor on the network-connected device, a user selection of a link within a second software application running on the device, the selection of the link indicating a request to install a first software application;
• invoking an installation client to run on the network-connected device while the second software application continues to run in the foreground, the invoked client running in the background;
• determining, by the installation client in the background, whether the second software application is eligible to use capabilities of the installation client;
• responsive to a determination by the installation client that the second software application is eligible to use capabilities of the installation client, downloading an installation file for the first software application to the network-connected device, the downloading performed by the installation client in the background and without user interaction with an app store;
• and
• using the downloaded installation file, installing, by the installation client in the background, the first software application on the network-connected device while the second software application remains in the foreground.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to perform operations for installing software applications on a network-connected device, said operations comprising:

• receiving a user selection of a link within a second software application running on the network-connected device, the selection of the link indicating a request to install a first software application;
• invoking an installation client to run on the network-connected device while the second software application continues to run in the foreground, the invoked client running in the background;
• determining, by the installation client in the background, whether the second software application is eligible to use capabilities of the installation client;
• responsive to a determination by the installation client that the second software application is eligible to use capabilities of the installation client, downloading an installation file for the first software application to the network-connected device, the downloading performed by the installation client in the background and without user interaction with an app store;
• and
• using the downloaded installation file, installing, by the installation client in the background, the first software application on the network-connected device while the second software application remains in the foreground.