Three smartphone makers-- Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo-- join forces to create a P2P file transfer protocol allowing for easier file sharing between Android devices without need for 3rd party applications.
The announcement takes place on Chinese social network Weibo. It does not detail the technology behind the protocol, but it probably uses Bluetooth LE to establish connections with transfer speeds of around 20MB per second. Users should be able to transfer multiple file formats and even entire folders through the solution between not only devices from the same brands, but also any devices from the three companies, in any combination.
Of course, such a technology is a new concept. Apple has AirDrop, a convenient means for sharing files between iDevices, while Android used to have the NFC-based Android Beam, a feature Google is dropping in favour of Fast Share, a faster technology set to become available in Android Q. However Fast Share is reportedly a Google Play Services feature, explaining why the three Chinese companies are set to make an own equivalent.
Vivo, Xiaomi and Oppo say the protocol will be available by end August 2019. They give no word as to whether it will be available outside of China or Asian markets, but it might become available for other phone makers outside the main trio sometime in the future.