Building efficient apps and extensions with push messaging

Google Cloud Messaging for Chrome (GCM) provides a more efficient way for apps and extensions to respond to external events, eliminating the need for continuous server polling, which previously led to bandwidth consumption and reduced battery life. Announced by Mark Scott, Product Manager for Chrome, GCM allows developers to send messages in near real-time to a Chrome app or extension by requesting a channel ID token and passing it to their server. When a message is posted to the GCM server-side API with the token, it activates the app's event page, delivering the message to the chrome.pushMessaging.onMessage listener. This service, which is similar to Google Cloud Messaging for Android, requires users to be signed into Chrome for the push channel to function, ensuring messages are automatically delivered to all devices where the user is signed in and has installed the app or extension.