iPhone users might soon be able to use Quick Share
If successful, Quick Share could quickly become a go-to option for all file transfers.
Since July 2011, Apple users have proudly showcased AirDrop, the exclusive feature for transferring files between Apple devices. Nearly ten years after its launch, Samsung introduced Quick Share, a wireless peer-to-peer data transfer utility for Android, Windows and ChromeOS.
Then Google stepped in and together with Samsung, both companies were able to expand Quick Share to all Android devices. But now, it looks like Google is also aiming to bring it to Apple devices.
Like many of Google's projects, parts of Quick Share are available on GitHub and Google’s Nearby repository since it's open source. This means Google regularly update it to add new backend features and fix any bugs.
In one of these bug fixes, however, Android Authority pointed out a comment by a Google engineer on Quick Share code that mentions iOS and macOS, hinting at this possibility.
While this might not be the most concrete hint, it is quite routine for Google to integrate its services in as many places as possible, like when the company developed the Quick Share for Windows app. But, it isn't entirely sure how Google plans to get Apple to adopt it.
Getting Quick Share onto Apple devices could be tricky because of the differences between iOS and Android. Google might need to integrate it into one of its existing services, like Google Search, or develop a dedicated app for iOS and macOS.
Also, Quick Share will likely only allow users to send images, documents, and other files—excluding apps— because apps are built differently for both operating systems.
With that said, this feature would still be helpful to those who use both platforms, like iPhone users with a Windows laptop, as it would make transferring files between their phone and computer and vice versa a breeze.
While several apps, like Xender, do what Quick Share might eventually offer, many believe that if Google takes this route, it could provide a more seamless and overall better experience.
But, until we get a confirmation from Google itself, there's really no way to confirm if this was all just dust under the bed or if Google has finally unlocked a file-sharing system that beats Airdrop. For now, though, Quick Share remains available to over 3 billion active devices or 70.69% of the global smartphone market that uses Android, according to Backlinko.
Loy Okezie
