The newest update for Google Play Services suggests an impending Contact Exchange function.
What you should be aware of
– Google might be developing a counterpart to Apple’s NameDrop feature specifically for Android devices.
– This tool could utilize NFC technology to facilitate effortless contact sharing among Android smartphones.
– It would enable Android users to exchange their name, photo, phone number, and email with just a tap.
Google is advancing to match Apple regarding ecosystem functionalities and integration, although it still has some progress to make. There are numerous Apple ecosystem features that currently lack counterparts on Android, like NameDrop — an NFC-driven contact sharing solution. However, this situation may be evolving. Android Authority discovered initial developments of a Contact Exchange feature that could simplify contact sharing in an upcoming Android update.
Android Authority initially detected code related to NFC data sharing in version 25.44.32 of the Google Play Services beta. The code referred to terms like “Gesture Exchange,” “ContactExchangeActivity,” and “ndef.” The last term likely refers to NFC Data Exchange format, as per the report.
A more recent edition of Google Play Services, v25.46.31, enabled tinkerer AssembleDebug to activate what might be Android’s forthcoming contact sharing interface. While these signs clearly indicate Google’s efforts toward a more convenient method of sharing contact cards on Android, akin to NameDrop, the feature’s name remains uncertain. Additionally, it is not clear if it will be exclusively dependent on NFC.
What might Android’s NameDrop alternative entail?
For reference, Apple introduced NameDrop with iOS 17, making it available on iPhones for a few years. Users design Contact Posters — already available on Android as Calling Cards — featuring their name and a photo.
By placing the top of their iPhone next to another, they can share their Contact Poster and contact information. This gesture can also initiate SharePlay for group movie-viewing or gaming.
The forthcoming Android counterpart is currently less elaborate, but that could evolve before its release. It includes fields for a photo, name, phone number, and email, along with checkboxes allowing users to specify which contact fields to share with others. There is also a Receive only option that won’t share anything with the other party.
Once the Contact Exchange has been successfully utilized, Android displays a confirmation screen with the received contact details. From this point, Android users can save the contact information transferred wirelessly to their device and Google account.
It remains uncertain when, or if, Contact Exchange will officially launch for Android users. Given that Google has already adopted iOS 17’s other major feature, Contact Posters, it wouldn’t be surprising if it draws inspiration from NameDrop as well.
