Google’s Nearby Share and Samsung’s Quick Share apps may be merged

Google appears to want to rename its Nearby Share app to Quick Share. That’s the same name as Samsung’s similar tool. According to tech journalist Mishaal Rahman, this is no coincidence, but there are indications that both tools are being merged.

Android leaker Kamila Wojciechowska discovered the changed name in version 23.50.13 of Google Mobile Services. In addition to the name, the icon has also been overhauled, and some changes have been made to the interface. Based on one of the shared screenshots, it is now also possible to limit Quick Share visibility to ten minutes.

It’s unclear why Google is giving its Airdrop-like service the same name as Samsung’s similar tool. Mishaal Rahman from Android Authority stilt that this may mean merging the two tools, or at least becoming interoperable. According to him, there are indications in the Play Services app that indicate a ‘migration education flow’, although no further explanation is given. Samsung’s Quick Share app currently only works between Galaxy devices, but it could potentially be used to exchange files with other Android users in the future.