Skip to main content

Google’s upcoming Copresence feature lets iOS & Android users share via AirDrop-like functionality

In June a report detailed a feature in development by Google that would reportedly allow Android devices to alert “people, places, and things” to the presence of nearby users. At the time, reports referred to the feature as “Nearby” and described it as a location-based feature for Android devices in close proximity to one another. Today, AndroidPolice is back with more info pointing to evidence that the feature will be cross-platform and allow Android and iOS devices to share content and communicate when nearby.

To authenticate with one another, the two devices would apparently be able to use location information or Bluetooth, perhaps along with a functionality similar to “whisper,” the ultrasonic authentication method Google has used for the Chromecast to allow devices to connect from different networks. Actual information would be transferred using Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi direct… Android and iOS devices communicate with one another in a variety of ways, exchanging files, photos, directions, messages, or other content…

The report says the feature is being referred to as Copresence internally and shared the images (above and below) that were discovered by a tipster in the latest Google Play Services APK. The images depict both iOS and Android devices sharing files, photos, audio, and text between one another using what is reportedly the under development Copresence feature.

More evidence, as the report points out, comes from recent developer documentation for a Copresence Chrome API, patents, and internal issue reports for the API that reference the service. AndroidPolice claims the service could arrive in “the coming weeks.”

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Fallenjt JT - 9 years ago

    “inspired by” Apple. That’s what Google’s good at…eventually, they will claim it as an original idea.

    • Abraham Song - 9 years ago

      I love Apple like the next guy on here, but seriously? You’re going to trot that out?

      Apple hasn’t been 100% original either btw.

      Folks… it’s time to grow up. Didn’t we go through Apple V. Windows already? Why do we continue this BS nonsense? Grow up. Use the tools that help YOU. Who freakin’ cares where it comes from?

      I don’t.

    • Abraham Song - 9 years ago

      Btw… isn’t iCloud Drive just “inspired” by DropBox? Looks like to me.

      Everyone does this. Everyone. Get over it.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        Look back a bit to 2000 when Apple introduced iDisk. I don’t know why Apple dropped iDisk and took two years to replace it with iCloud disk, but I seriously doubt Dropbox or any current cloud service had anything to do with it.

  2. PMZanetti - 9 years ago

    Hopefully Apple comes up with a way to block it. ;)

    • Dean Har - 9 years ago

      Or you can just not use the feature. Apple doesn’t have to dictate everything in your life you know?

      Still don’t know why Apple makes it so difficult to share files between iOS and PCs. I understand they’re trying to sell an ecosystem, but pretending other operating systems don’t exist isn’t very productive.

      • rettun1 - 9 years ago

        It is not that the current methods are “difficult”. I don’t think its too tasking to email things, I actually still email back and forth to myself because Continuity in IOS and OS X isn’t rock solid yet

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        I’m pretty sure iCloud drive is available for Windows.

    • Abraham Song - 9 years ago

      Why as a consumer would you want Apple to block something that is actually useful? And how, btw is Google violating anything in the App Store?

      Seriously, never understood this Apple v. Google thing. Didn’t we grow up after the Windows v. Mac era? Good lord. Grow up.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        Because it’s Google. Any data that Google gets access to will likely be mined for Google’s use. If it proves to be simply a way of transferring information between phones, then no need to block it, but if the information winds up on Google’s examination table, then it’s another Google service I won’t use.

        I don’t want my data exploited by Google or anyone else. People don’t trust Google, it’s as simple as that.

        Mac vs Windows was about a lot of things, but what happens to your personal data was never one of them. Google gives away operating systems, software and services just so they can sniff your digital panties and that’s creepy. I seriously doubt that Google is suddenly feeling altruistic and developing Copresence for the good of all mankind, they probably just want to get a better sniff.

  3. mpias3785 - 9 years ago

    It sounds interesting but with Google involved, will the information go straight from device to device or will it eventually wind up on a Google server somewhere being mined for useful data?

    Google has turned into nosy busybody neighbor/peeping Tom/creepy uncle of the technology world and I avoid using their services whenever possible. When not possible I usually feel like I need to scrub with Brillo or get a hepatitis shot afterwards.

    I truly wonder if Google is capable of doing something benign and not self-serving.

  4. Eric Lee - 9 years ago

    Why would I want to connect my iPhone with a dirty Android???

    • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

      You don’t have friends with android phones? I get along with my friends even if they love windows and android. We occasionally have heated discussions on this topic but there’s more to life than what computing device you use. This program of Google’s sounds promising as long as Google stays away from the data being transferred. I make sure that my android friends wash their hands and disinfect their phones before touching anything (a minor inconvenience) but they put up with it.

      It’s a nice sounding utility and I’m all for it as long as the data doesn’t wind up on a Google server somewhere. Then again, it is Google we’re talking about. Google is hard to trust.

      • airmanchairman - 9 years ago

        There are already many standard ways of detecting neighbours of different platforms, sending messages and exchanging files.

        I just wonder what Google’s ulterior motives are in introducing yet another proprietary alternative to SMS, MMS and umpteen cross-platform apps in both platforms’ App Stores…

    • Abraham Song - 9 years ago

      Yes, because you can’t ever envision a scenario where you want to share a file with an android user. Riiight… /s

      So, every single one of your friends are all iOS users? I find that very hard to believe.

    • Martin Stahl - 9 years ago

      Yeah, why would I want to connect my Android with iPhone when you can do hundreds more things on Android and iPhone works just as SWAG increasing thing.

  5. airmanchairman - 9 years ago

    The fruits of their Bump (and possibly other 3rd party app) acquisition(s) coming to ripeness..

  6. jrox16 - 9 years ago

    I wonder where our troll Fandroid friend herb is now? Is he hiding so as not to face the fact this is Google playing catchup with Apple?

    • Abraham Song - 9 years ago

      Explain how this is “catch up to Apple?” Especially since air drop doesn’t even work on all Macs with other iOS devices.

  7. Sergey Orlik (@SOrlik) - 9 years ago

    Just published free AirSputnik has already provide cross-platfrom file and photo sharing among Android, iOS and Windows PC over Wifi, without Bluetooth, in one-to-many mode – http://mobilesputnik.com/airsputnik/

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.