After introducing AirDrop help to Pixel 10 units final 12 months, Google is now set to develop it to telephones made by different Android companions. Eric Kay, vice chairman of engineering for Android, confirmed in a press briefing attended by Android Authority that “much more” Android units will have the ability to use Fast Share to provoke AirDrop classes with Apple units this 12 months.
“We spent a variety of time and vitality to ensure that we may construct one thing that was appropriate not solely with iPhone however iPads and MacBooks,” Kay mentioned. “Now that we’ve confirmed it out, we’re working with our companions to develop it into the remainder of the ecosystem, and you need to see some thrilling bulletins coming very quickly.”
Presently, Google’s Pixel 10 telephones are the one Android units that may use Fast Share — Android’s personal wi-fi peer-to-peer switch characteristic, beforehand generally known as Close by Share — to communicate directly with Apple’s AirDrop. Google hasn’t outlined any particular Android companions or units for the replace but, however each Nothing and chipmaker Qualcomm teased in November that help was coming.
Kay additionally mentioned Google’s efforts to enhance the method for iOS customers who change to Android, serving to to forestall incomplete information transfers, misplaced messages, and different points. Apple has been engaged on a “user-friendly” approach of transferring information from iPhones to different units since early 2024, and Google and Apple’s collaborative efforts have been seen being examined in Android Canary 2512 for Pixel units in December.
“We’re additionally going to be working to make it straightforward for individuals who do resolve to modify to switch their information and ensure they’ve acquired all the things they’d from their outdated telephone,” Kay mentioned throughout the identical briefing. “So there’s much more occurring with that.”
