Copresence - Google's Initiative to Make Sharing Files Between Android and iOS Effortless

Google has been developing some interesting features within the Android ecosystem and knows only that will help it sustain the huge market share it has garnered. One such initiative was revealed in the month of June that talked about Android devices being able to alert the user, place and even objects about proximity of other users nearby. The feature was supposed to be a location based one for Android gadgets that are close to each other.

Copresence – A Wonderful Cross Platform Initiative

The feature has been dubbed as Copresence. One of the tipsters discovered images within the Google Play Store APK that showed devices of both the iOS and Android being able to share files, text, audio and other data with each other. There has been more evidence about this wonderful cross platform feature being very effective from other sources close to Google Android and this is great news for users. Such a service is already available with AirDrop and Android Beam, but they are exclusive to the platform they cater to. They do not encourage cross platform sharing and Google has been trying hard to bring in that luxury to users of different platforms. If Copresence is fully tested and released into the market, it would be a service that would be snapped up by iOS and Android users due to the ease of sharing of data over Wi-Fi. In addition, since it uses location data that includes Bluetooth to initially configure the connection, it would be possible for a user to send details of even directions apart from data to the other user. He or she need not rely on any of the cloud storage features of Google Drive or the Dropbox to do so. The best part is the users need not set up a Google account either.

Copresence – Will Be Limited To Google Apps

The feature should be out within a few weeks but will be limited initially to Google apps. To start with, users may be able to exchange a few programs with the iOS but that still is a great beginning as compared to the situation today. Google wanted to develop something on the lines of the AirDrop style of transfer of files between platforms and has succeeded with the Copresence feature in doing exactly that. The feature will revolve around the Android Beam NFC dependent attribute that has already been built into the Android ecosystem. The medium of transfer will be Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi direct and is expected to work on computers having Chrome as well. Apple had an advantage with its iOS 8 update that enabled it to switch between gadgets. The Copresence from Google would be a worthy competitor to the Continuity. Its acquisition of Bump last year had set the tone for using that technology for the Copresence initiative. Google has high hopes for Copresence and it remains to be seen if it can match up to Continuity. But a start has been made and Android users will be enthused about it.