WhatsApp is introducing a new file-sharing feature, "Nearby Share", that works in a similar way to Apple’s AirDrop.
Nearby Share allows users to send and receive large files, such as documents, photographs, and videos, between both Android and iOS phones without needing to be connected to the internet.
The feature was first seen in April this year in a beta version of WhatsApp for Android and has surfaced once again in an iOS beta release. It includes a QR code that users must scan to begin the file-sharing process.
The WhatsApp-focussed news publication WABeta Info, which reported on both test releases of Nearby Share, outlined some of the advantages of this capability.
Sharing files with people nearby without relying on an Internet connection significantly will enhance the file transfer experience."
“This method is particularly advantageous for large files such as high-resolution photos, videos, and documents, especially in areas with limited or unstable network coverage, where people might be unable to use WhatsApp.
“This feature will also work across different platforms, including Android and iOS, regardless of the type of device users or their contacts are using.
Turning to security, it added: “In addition, this is compatible with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the intended recipients can access the content.”
Nearby Share for WhatsApp
Nearby Share can share files provided your phone can “find, connect to, and determine the relative position of nearby devices” and get permission from the destination device before anything can be successfully received.
At this point, it seems that iOS is a little more restrictive than its Android counterpart. Whether that is due to technological limitations or an added security feature is unclear, but it requires that a QR code be scanned to start the file-sharing process.
