iPhone and Google Phones to Enable Easy, Ultra-Fast Photo Transfers with AirDrop Compatibility

Google Implements Its Own Solution Without Apple's Approval

Google has unveiled its new smartphone, the Pixel 10, and announced that its file transfer feature, Quick Share, will now be compatible with Apple's AirDrop. AirDrop is a signature feature that operates exclusively within the Apple ecosystem, and its lack of compatibility has long been cited as a major inconvenience for users.

According to Bloomberg on November 21 (local time), Google introduced the new Pixel 10 series the previous day. The company also revealed that it has developed its own technology that enables the latest devices to utilize Apple’s AirDrop. While this feature is currently available only on the Pixel 10, Google stated that it plans to expand support to additional models in the future. This development opens the door for Android and iPhone users to share files quickly and securely using only their device’s built-in features.

Quick Share on the Galaxy S10 series is integrated with AirDrop, enabling smoother and more secure file transfers between Android phones and iPhones. Screenshot from Google Blog

Short-range wireless file sharing features like Quick Share and AirDrop typically combine Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct technologies. Devices are discovered and connections are established via Bluetooth, and then the actual file transfer is carried out using Wi-Fi Direct, which provides much faster speeds for data exchange.

AirDrop is renowned for its fast transfer speeds and high reliability, making it an essential feature for Apple OS users. Google has benchmarked this to offer Quick Share for file transfers between Android devices, but direct transfers between the two features have not been possible. The European Union Commission has recommended that Apple open up AirDrop to external devices, but Apple has refused, citing security and privacy concerns.

A Google spokesperson stated, "It shouldn't matter what device you use to share precious moments with family and friends," adding, "Sharing should just work." The spokesperson continued, "This update is an essential step to maximize consumer benefit," and predicted, "Just as RCS has become a standard messaging protocol and changed the market, AirDrop and Quick Share integration will also become a basic feature."

Dave Kleidermacher, Vice President of Security and Privacy at Google, explained, "This feature does not use any workarounds," and emphasized, "It operates through direct peer-to-peer connections between devices, so data is never uploaded to a server, and no logs or personal information are collected."

So far, Apple has not issued any official statement regarding Google’s announcement. Given that Google’s move to open up Apple’s ecosystem was somewhat unexpected, Apple appears to be taking a cautious approach. Attention is focused on whether Apple will accept interoperability with Google for user convenience, or whether it will move to block it in order to protect its characteristically closed ecosystem.