Google and Samsung could join forces again in the very near future to unify their file sharing services.
Two prominent Android experts think so: Mishaal Rahman and Kamila Wojciechowska whose social media posts are just minutes apart.
Looks like Google is renaming Nearby Share to… Quick Share, which is also the name of Samsung’s file sharing solution? ahhhhh
Today I received a GMS update to version 23.50.13 and then immediately the notification in the image above. The update as well as… pic.twitter.com/RkobYEMIw4
– Kamila (@Za_Raczke) December 22, 2023
Interesting: it looks like Google might be rebranding Nearby Share to Quick Share. Quick Share is notably the name of Samsung’s file sharing service on Galaxy devices. Are these two services going to be merged?
More details in the article with link belowhttps://t.co/E2CJPonnyR
-Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) December 22, 2023
As you can see, the supposed “Google + Samsung” collaboration is fueled by Google’s latest actions: the giant is renaming its Nearby Share service to Quick Share. And if you’re a Samsung user, Quick Share will sound like a flag: this is Samsung’s file sharing service. According to Kamila Wojciechowska, Nearby Share was renamed to Quick Share after the installation of GMS (Google Mobile Services – a collection of Google apps and APIs that help support functionality across various devices) is updated with version 23.50.13 (via SamMobile).
Additionally, there is a notification bubble that presents the new name and says: “Look for the new name and icon for sharing with nearby devices.” Google allegedly updated the branding throughout the Android user interface and there is also a new icon. It is extremely similar to the original Near Share and Quick Share icons, so a service merger with Samsung is indeed highly likely.
As commented by an user X: “If they partnered with Samsung and made it interoperable, then perfect, but if they didn’t and just renamed it out of nowhere, then it’s a terrible decision.”
How to use Samsung’s Quick Share?
- Ensure Quick Share feature is enabled on both phones. On the other device, open the notification panel, swipe down and tap Quick Share to activate it. It will turn blue when activated. If the Quick Share icon doesn’t appear in the quick settings panel, it may need to be added.
- Open the Gallery app and select an image. Tap the Share button and select a device to transfer the image to. Accept the file transfer request on the other device.
- If you are having trouble connecting to another device, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings and long press the Quick Share icon. Tap the button next to “Show my location to others” to allow nearby devices to see your device when using Quick Share. This option will only appear if Quick Share is enabled.