Android Authority has reportedly spotted Google working on a NameDrop-like feature for Android.
To add some context on what NameDrop is, users on iOS can bring the top of their phone to another person’s iPhone or Apple Watch, which initiates an animation and lets them choose whether to share their phone number or email. There are also options for whether to send or only receive the other person’s contact info.
Circling back to Android, a previous version of Google Play Services (v25.44.32 beta) was found to include strings related to “Gesture Exchange.” To add onto that, part of the strings include “ndef,” which Android Authority notes could likely translate to “NFC Data Exchange Format. There was also code spotted for Gesture Exchange, which includes a new activity called “Contact Exchange Activity.”
With the latest Google Play Services (v25.46.31), Android Authority managed to enable one of the Contact Exchange activities to see what Android’s Contact Exchange will look like.
According to some early screenshots, a pop-up appears from the bottom (unlike Apple’s animation, which takes up most of the screen) with tiles that let you choose whether to share your photo, phone number, or email. Similar to NameDrop, there are options at the bottom for sharing your info or receiving only. A second screenshot shows what it will look like when you click the receive only button.
It has been pointed out that it is still a little early to speculate what the technology will be. The most likely answer will be NFC, but Android Authority speculates whether it will be used more as a ‘handshake’ to get the interaction started before switching to Bluetooth/WiFi, or if it will stick to NFC throughout the entire process.
Image credit: Apple
Source: Android Authority
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