Google and Samsung might be merging Nearby Share and Quick Share

There are quite a few methods to share recordsdata between Android telephones, however the best choice is the one which’s already out there on each the sender and the receiver machine. Every Android cellphone with Google apps preinstalled has entry to Nearby Share, Google’s peer-to-peer file sharing service. Nearby Share isn’t your solely file sharing choice in case you have a Samsung machine, although, as there’s additionally Quick Share. Even although Quick Share is unique to Samsung units, it each predates Nearby Share and additionally has some distinctive options that aren’t a part of Google’s providing, which makes it a preferred selection amongst Samsung customers. Soon, although, Samsung customers could not have to choose and select between Nearby Share and Quick Share, as the 2 file sharing companies may be coming underneath the identical umbrella.

Developer and Pixel leaker extraordinaire Kamila Wojciechowska obtained her palms on a brand new model of the Google Play Services app, model 23.50.13. In it, she found quite a few hints that Google might be rebranding Nearby Share to Quick Share. These clues had been shared on the leaker’s X profile earlier at this time.

For instance, after initially receiving the replace, she obtained the next notification informing her that “Nearby Share is now Quick Share” and to “look for the new name and icon to share with nearby devices.”

The new Quick Share title is mirrored within the Quick Settings tile, the dialog for discoverability, and the file sharing interface, as proven under.

As for the brand new icon, it’s seen in each the notification and the Quick Settings tile proven above, however Kamila additionally shared a close-up of the icon for higher visibility.

While digging by the Play Services app, Kamila discovered proof of a migration schooling circulate for the brand new Quick Share expertise. This, together with the brand new title matching Samsung’s current file sharing service, means that the change entails greater than only a easy rebranding. It’s potential that Google and Samsung might be merging their two file sharing companies, or not less than making them interoperable with each other.

If the 2 corporations are collaborating with one another, it’s potential that both Samsung carried out the Nearby library of their Quick Share service to make it suitable with Nearby Share, or the alternative occurred and Google carried out help for the Quick Share service into Nearby Share. In both case, Samsung customers would not have to fret about by accident deciding on Quick Share after they meant to choose Nearby Share to share a file with a non-Samsung Android consumer. There would simply be one choice — Quick Share — that may work with each Samsung and non-Samsung Android units.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any concrete proof that the 2 companies are literally merging. However, given the circumstances, it appears seemingly. After all, had been Nearby Share to be rebranded to Quick Share with out the 2 companies merging, then that would imply Samsung units would have two “Quick Share” choices to choose from within the share sheet. That would solely serve to confuse common customers, lots of whom already aren’t conscious of the distinction between the 2 companies.

We reached out to Google and Samsung for touch upon the potential merger and will replace this text if we hear again. If a merger is certainly occurring, then it’s seemingly we’ll see an announcement at both CES 2024 subsequent month or the subsequent Galaxy Unpacked occasion, each time that’s.