Google and Samsung may be merging Close by Share and Fast Share

There are quite a few methods to share recordsdata between Android telephones, however the best choice is the one which’s already accessible on each the sender and the receiver gadget. Each Android cellphone with Google apps preinstalled has entry to Close by Share, Google’s peer-to-peer file sharing service. Close by Share isn’t your solely file sharing possibility if in case you have a Samsung gadget, although, as there’s additionally Fast Share. Regardless that Fast Share is unique to Samsung units, it each predates Close by Share and in addition has some distinctive options that aren’t a part of Google’s providing, which makes it a preferred alternative amongst Samsung customers. Quickly, although, Samsung customers might not have to choose and select between Close by Share and Fast Share, as the 2 file sharing companies might be coming below the identical umbrella.

Developer and Pixel leaker extraordinaire Kamila Wojciechowska received her arms on a brand new model of the Google Play Providers app, model 23.50.13. In it, she found quite a few hints that Google may be rebranding Close by Share to Fast Share. These clues had been shared on the leaker’s X profile earlier in the present day.

For instance, after initially receiving the replace, she acquired the next notification informing her that “Close by Share is now Fast Share” and to “search for the brand new identify and icon to share with close by units.”

The brand new Fast Share identify is mirrored within the Fast Settings tile, the dialog for discoverability, and the file sharing interface, as proven beneath.

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

Whereas digging by the Play Providers app, Kamila discovered proof of a migration training circulation for the brand new Fast Share expertise. This, together with the brand new identify matching Samsung’s present file sharing service, means that the change entails greater than only a easy rebranding. It’s potential that Google and Samsung may 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 applied the Close by library of their Fast Share service to make it appropriate with Close by Share, or the alternative occurred and Google applied assist for the Fast Share service into Close by Share. In both case, Samsung customers would now not have to fret about by chance choosing Fast Share once they meant to choose Close by Share to share a file with a non-Samsung Android consumer. There would simply be one possibility — Fast Share — that may work with each Samsung and non-Samsung Android units.

Sadly, we don’t have any concrete proof that the 2 companies are literally merging. Nonetheless, given the circumstances, it appears seemingly. In any case, had been Close by Share to be rebranded to Fast Share with out the 2 companies merging, then that might imply Samsung units would have two “Fast Share” choices to choose from within the share sheet. That will 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 can 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, at any time when that’s.