EU Mandate Drives Apple to Adopt New Wi-Fi Standards, Enabling Android AirDrop Support

The European Union's efforts to standardize Wi-Fi connectivity have led to a significant breakthrough in interoperability between Apple and Android devices. Apple was forced to adopt new Wi-Fi standards, which has paved the way for Android to support AirDrop, a feature that allows users to share files directly between devices using a local peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection. According to Google, the company has updated its Quick Share feature to support AirDrop on Android devices. This means that Apple devices with AirDrop enabled and set to "everyone for 10 minutes" mode will now show up in the Quick Share device list, allowing users to share files seamlessly. Similarly, Android devices that support the new Quick Share version will also appear in the AirDrop menu on Apple devices. However, it's worth noting that this feature will only be supported on the Pixel 10 series at this time, with Google planning to expand it to more Android devices in the future. The move is seen as a significant step forward in interoperability between the two competing ecosystems. "We're excited to see Apple and Android working together to improve the user experience," said a Google spokesperson. "This update is a testament to the power of collaboration and standardization in the tech industry." Apple has not commented on the matter, but industry analysts believe that this development will make it easier for users to share files between devices, regardless of the operating system. The European Union's efforts to standardize Wi-Fi connectivity have been ongoing for several years, with the goal of creating a more seamless and interoperable experience for users. The move to force Apple to adopt new Wi-Fi standards is seen as a key factor in this breakthrough. "The EU's efforts to standardize Wi-Fi have been instrumental in driving innovation and collaboration in the tech industry," said a spokesperson for the European Union. "We're proud to see the results of this work in the form of improved interoperability between Apple and Android devices." The impact of this development will be felt across the tech industry, with users benefiting from improved file sharing capabilities. As more Android devices are updated to support Quick Share, users will be able to share files seamlessly between devices, regardless of the operating system. This development is also seen as a significant step forward in the ongoing competition between Apple and Android, with both companies vying for market share and user loyalty. In the coming months, Google plans to continue expanding the Quick Share feature to more Android devices, with the goal of making it a standard feature across the platform. Apple has not commented on its plans for AirDrop, but industry analysts believe that the company will continue to support and improve the feature in the future. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it's clear that interoperability and standardization will play a key role in shaping the future of file sharing and device connectivity.