Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are working on smartphone file transfer protocol

Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are collaborating on a protocol for transferring files wirelessly between smartphones. The system works with bluetooth and probably with wifi. Other manufacturers can join.

Technical details are not yet known, but Xiaomi’s announcement shows that the interconnection between smartphones will be established with bluetooth and that files can then be transferred at 20MB/s. That speed makes it plausible that Wi-Fi is used. Apple uses that same combination with its AirDrop functionality.

The three Chinese smartphone manufacturers will integrate the technology in their Android-based operating systems. It concerns Xiaomi’s MIUI, Oppo’s ColorOS and Vivo’s FuntouchOS. Xiaomi announces the joint development on the Chinese social network WeChat and reports that other manufacturers are welcome to join. The functionality should be available as beta soon.

Google itself puts similar techniques in Android. Since Android 4.0, Android Beam has been in the operating system, which uses NFC to connect smartphones. That technology disappears in Android Q, but the successor is the Fast Share function, which works with bluetooth. Also in Google’s Files app is a peer-to-peer file transfer feature.

The Chinese manufacturers probably want to offer an alternative with their own technology that also works on smartphones without Google Play Services. The new Fast Share technology in Android Q may be part of those Google services and would therefore not work on smartphones sold in China.