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Google today officially unveiled Nearby through which it aims to make it simpler for users who are in close proximity to each other to easily communicate and share information between their devices.
Nearby makes use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an inaudible sound emitted from the speaker and microphone to detect the proximity of devices. It also allows Android devices to communicate with beacons. Nearby is compatible with iOS devices, and allows Android and iOS devices to talk to each other without any compatibility issues. It also does not require a Google account to work.
Google is already using the Nearby in a few of its products and services including Chormecast’s Guest mode, Nearby Players in Google Play Games, and more. For Android devices, Google is rolling out Google Play services 7.8 today with this feature baked in. It will also contain the appropriate Nearby messages API for developers to take advantage of.
Google also highlighted certain apps in its announcement that are being updated to make use of Nearby. For example, the developers behind Trello are using Nearby to make it easier to share a board with the people around you. Similarly, the PocketCasts team is using Nearby to discover and compare podcasts from people around you.
You can read more about Nearby and the apps that have been updated to take advantage of it here.
[Via Google Developers]
