Khaberni - Google is gearing up to make a significant leap in the Android user experience through a new feature that enables the quick and smooth exchange of contact information, closely resembling the NameDrop feature introduced by "Apple" with iOS 17.
The new feature, known internally as Gesture Exchange or Contact Exchange, allows users to share their basic data by simply bringing two phones close to each other, facilitating the process of meeting and exchanging personal information very quickly.
Apple introduced the NameDrop feature at the WWDC 2023 conference, and it has become one of the most popular features of iOS 17, according to a report published by PhoneArena.
The feature allows two iPhones, or an iPhone with an Apple Watch, to exchange Contact Posters and phone numbers within seconds, with an option to decide whether the user wants to share their data completely or just receive.
The feature relies on NFC technology for the initial handshake between the devices, then the transfer process moves to AirDrop, which uses Bluetooth for discovery and WiFi for fast and secure data transfer.
The new feature on Android will allow users to share three basic types of data:
- Personal image
- Phone number
- Email address
Users can choose to share one or more of these, or activate the Receive Only option to receive information from the other party without sharing their personal data.
After receiving the data, a card titled Contact received will appear, with options to save the contact, start a text conversation, or a direct video call, improving the efficiency and ease of communication between users.
Behind the technology of the feature.. NFC and Bluetooth and maybe more
It is expected that Google will rely on NFC to start the connection between the phones, while the data exchange process will be completed via Bluetooth or even directly through NFC, ensuring fast transfer and ease of use.
So far, Google has not announced an official release date for the feature, nor whether it will be available on all Android phones, but many users anticipate it will become an important addition, especially for those accustomed to similar features on Apple devices.
