Android to Introduce NFC-Based Contact Sharing Similar to Apple's NameDrop

Google may be working on an alternative to Apple's NameDrop feature for Android, aimed at simplifying contact sharing using NFC technology. According to Android Central, this tool could enable Android users to share their contact information, including name, photo, phone number, and email, simply by tapping their devices together.

The report highlights that Google is catching up with Apple in terms of ecosystem features and functionality, though it acknowledges that many of Apple's features, including NameDrop, currently lack direct equivalents on Android.

Android Authority first uncovered this potential feature in the beta version of Google Play Services, version twenty-five point forty-four point thirty-two, which contained references to NFC data sharing and terms like 'Gesture Exchange' and 'ContactExchangeActivity.' Further examination revealed that in version twenty-five point forty-six point thirty-one, a user activated what could be Android's upcoming contact-sharing interface.

While details remain sparse, early indications suggest that Android's feature may mirror NameDrop by allowing users to select specific fields to share, such as their contact photo, name, phone number, and email.

Additionally, there is an option to share nothing, termed 'Receive only.' After sharing, users would see a confirmation screen indicating successful transfer of contact details, which could then be saved to their device and Google account.

Apple's NameDrop, introduced with iOS seventeen, allows users to create customized Contact Posters and share them by holding their iPhones close together. The report does not confirm when or if this Android feature, currently dubbed 'Contact Exchange,' will be publicly released, but given Google's recent adoption of iOS features like Contact Posters, it would not be surprising to see it launch soon.