- By Alex David
- Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Google is quietly building a new way for Android users to exchange contact details simply by bringing two phones together. The feature, discovered inside the latest Google Play Services build, mirrors Apple’s NameDrop — a tool introduced with iOS 17 that made contact sharing effortless by using proximity gestures. What this really means is that Android may soon offer a faster, more intuitive way to swap details without scanning codes, typing numbers, or opening separate apps. It’s another example of both ecosystems taking cues from each other to modernise everyday tasks and remove friction from basic interactions.
A New Contact-Sharing System Emerging in Play Services
Clues about the feature surfaced in an Android Authority teardown, revealing internal labels like Gesture Exchange and Contact Exchange. While these names may change, they give a clear sense of the direction Google is headed.
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Inside the early interface, the system asks users to choose what they want to share when phones come close. You can pick a profile photo, a phone number, or an email address. There’s also a “Receive only” option for people who don’t want to send anything back — a thoughtful addition that mirrors the privacy-friendly behaviour of NameDrop.
Once the phones connect, Android shows the received information cleanly, with a one-tap option to save it. Google also adds shortcuts for messaging or video calling right from the contact card, reducing the usual steps that follow a new exchange.
How It Works Under the Hood
The feature appears to rely on NFC for the initial handshake — the moment you bring the phones together. After that, Google may switch to faster transfer tech like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, although that part isn’t confirmed yet. For now, the tool focuses solely on contact sharing, but the underlying system looks flexible enough for Google to expand into quick file sharing if it chooses.
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No Rollout Date Yet, but Development Is Active
The discovery signals that Google is actively testing the feature inside Play Services. Since Play Services updates can roll out independently of Android version upgrades, Google could ship this widely without waiting for Android 17.
There's no set schedule, but the presence of user interface screens and feature flags suggest public testing will soon begin.
Final Thoughts
Android has always embraced convenient, gesture-based features, and this new contact-sharing tool feels like a natural step forward. It removes the awkwardness of manually exchanging numbers and aligns Android with one of the iPhone’s most practical additions. Once it rolls out, swapping contact details may become as simple as a tap and a gesture — one more friction-free moment in the daily digital workflow of Android users.