Samsung users may soon be able to use Apple’s AirDrop to transfer files between an iPhone and their Galaxy smartphone. A new proposal by the European Union (EU) aims to make native iOS features compatible with Android and other third-party platforms. The idea is to make iOS more compatible with non-Apple smartwatches, earbuds, and more products.
EU pushes Apple to bring AirDrop and AirPlay to Android
The EU has already pressured Apple to open up its ecosystem to work better with Android. As part of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has rolled out support for USB-C, RCS, and third-party app stores. Now, a new proposal from European lawmakers seeks to improve iOS data transfer interoperability. The EU says Apple should implement effective interoperability for iOS features like data transfer and automatic audio switching.
The plan is to ensure seamless interaction between Apple features like AirDrop and AirPlay with other devices. The proposal highlights specific features for interoperability across platforms, including AirDrop and AirPlay. While the EU aims to bring several other iOS features to third-party devices, AirDrop is among the most popular ones.
European lawmakers mandate that Apple provide effective interoperability with AirDrop features, leaving little room for interpretation. The company should implement a solution allowing third parties to use the AirDrop API in a way that is equally effective as the solution available to iPhones. To ensure parity, the EU also demands that any updates to AirDrop be made accessible to third parties at the same time as Apple products.
This would enable seamless file transfer between iOS and Android, including Galaxy smartphones. The EU has stated that Apple must implement these measures in the next major iOS release and no later than the end of 2025. It is seeking feedback from Apple and other stakeholders on the proposed measures. Unsurprisingly, Apple has expressed strong opposition to several of these proposals. It will be interesting to see how it responds.
