Apple’s Beloved Feature Is Coming To Android: Google Is Working On The Android Namedrop Feature

How The Android Namedrop Feature Works: Contact Gestures Exchange Discovered In Google Play Services

MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA – One of the most appreciated features by smartphone users is making its way to the Android ecosystem. New code discovered within Google Play Services indicates that Android is developing a contact information sharing feature, similar to Apple’s NameDrop system on iPhones, by allowing two phones to be brought close together or tapped. This infrastructure, currently in the development phase, promises a significant change for Android users who still rely on manual processes for sharing contact details.

⚙️ New Mechanism: Contact Gestures Exchange

Investigations revealed traces of a new structure within Google Play Services named “Contact Gestures Exchange” (Temas Hareketleri Değişimi).

• Working Principle: Code lines and animations suggest that information such as names, phone numbers, or email addresses can be securely shared by bringing two Android phones close together or lightly tapping them.
• Infrastructure: The system appears to be linked to Google’s close-range sharing infrastructure, Nearby Share. Therefore, authentication is expected to be performed securely and quickly via Bluetooth or Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies. [EXTERNAL LINK: Google Nearby Share Documentation]

🌐 Flexibility And Wide Compatibility

This Android NameDrop Feature not only speeds up sharing but also offers users significant flexibility and control:

• Control: The code indicates that users can select the information they wish to share (only a photo, only email, only a number). Furthermore, there will be an option to only receive the other party’s information without sharing any details in return.
• Wide Distribution: The system will be distributed through Google Play Services. This means the new feature can reach a wide range of phones (even older models), independently of the core Android operating system version.

⏳ A Modern Version Of A Return To The Past

Google’s approach to contact-based sharing is not entirely new. The company discontinued its Android Beam system in 2012, which offered a similar function via NFC.

However, this new infrastructure is viewed as a secure and refined version of past solutions, relying on modern security standards and faster wireless technologies. In conclusion, manual processes like writing down numbers or scanning QR codes may soon be replaced by instantaneous transfer achieved with a single gesture.