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ZDNET Highlights
- Android and iPhone users can now share files.
- Currently, only Pixel 10 phones support this feature.
- Google says it will expand this technology to other Android devices.
I use an iPhone as my primary mobile device. From my phone, I can easily share files with another iPhone, iPad, or Mac. However, I would also like an easier way to share files with Android devices, whether my own or that of an Android-loving friend or relative. Now Google is taking the first steps toward making that potential a reality.
one in Blog post released on ThursdayGoogle announced that iPhones and Android devices will finally be able to share files. Great, you say. However, before you get too excited, there is one catch. At this early stage, only Google’s new Pixel 10 series supports this feature. Android users with different Pixel or Android phones are out of luck, at least for now.
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Until this feature was released, iPhone users could only share files with other Apple devices thanks to Apple’s AirDrop. Thanks to Quick Share, Android users can simply share files with other Android devices. But the two will never meet. Now, Google has apparently found a way to make Quick Share work nicely with AirDrop, paving the way for the new sharing method.
So, how does this ability work? Based on the video in Google’s blog post, you first activate Quick Share on an Android device and then select the file or files you want to share. Quick Share then searches for nearby devices, including iPhones. When the correct iPhone appears, select it on the Android phone. AirDrop then appears on the iPhone and asks if you want to accept the transfer. Accept the transfer, and the file completes its journey.
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How about security? Here, Google said that it has put in place strong security measures to protect your files during transfer. These security measures have been tested by external security experts.
The feature marks the latest development in the ongoing effort to bring iPhone and Android users closer together. In May 2024, both Apple and Google introduced a feature designed to alert iOS and Android users about any Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices tracking them without their knowledge or consent. With the release of iOS 18 later in 2024, Apple finally brought RCS, or Rich Communications Service, to the iPhone, allowing iOS and Android users to exchange rich text messages with each other.
These are big steps towards compatibility as Apple and Google have long been fierce competitors in the mobile landscape. They have fought not only in the market but also in the courtroom. But rivals also sometimes realize they have to stop fighting in the long run to act in the collective best interest of their users.
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What is the future of this technology? Google said it is hoping to improve the experience and expand it to other Android devices. For now, Pixel 10 owners who want to use the feature should watch the video featured in the blog post to see how it works. Then you can try it yourself with a friendly, neighborhood iPhone owner.
