Google releases People API for Android developers

Google has put information online about a new api in Android, which makes it possible, among other things, to request addresses and birthdays from the Contacts list of users. Users must give permission before the data can be retrieved.

The People API supersedes both the Contacts API and a Google+ API, Google says. According to the search giant, the API makes it possible to retrieve data from the contact list that was previously not possible, such as physical addresses, birthdays and emails.

Google hopes that developers can use the API to create apps that make smart use of that information. The APIs for requesting the contact list are used by chat apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, among others, which can compare the contacts with their own database to see who else uses the app.

In the long run, the People api will even replace the Contacts api in its entirety, but for now the Contacts api will continue to function.