Report: Android may soon get new ‘Nearby’ feature

Users of mobile devices running Google's Android may soon avail of a new feature dubbed "Nearby," which lets them connect to people and services near them. That is, if they don't mind risking a little of their privacy.

Enthusiast site Android Police said the upcoming "Nearby" feature promises "new interactions between you and nearby people, places, and things."

"When Nearby is turned on for your account, Google can periodically turn on the mic, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and similar features on all your current and future devices. Google+ and other Google services need this access to help you connect, share, and more," it said, citing its sources.

But a user who activates Nearby may also be turning on Location History for his or her account and Location Reporting for his or her device.

Android Police said Google these services will periodically store location data for use by Nearby and other Google services.

"The key takeaway from this is that Nearby will allow enabled devices, with extreme precision, to know when they are near each other, and interact according to the context," it said.

Also, the site said Google will try to protect privacy by allowing users to "choose who (and presumably what) they are visible to."

"This will limit the ways that Nearby can automatically interact on a user's behalf," it said.

Privacy

Android Police said that to protect a user's privacy, information gathered from various sources on a device would likely travel to Google.

This would then be matched with others' information there, "with only the acknowledgement of proximity being revealed to other devices."

On the other hand, Android Police said Nearby is "especially interesting" after Apple recently announced Continuity, which lets Apple-made devices interact with each other if they are near each other.

Potential uses

Android Police said Nearby could be useful for extremely targeted Wallet offers, reminders, or other location-based interactions.

"(B)ut the important part here is that a user wouldn't need to interact with their phone or tablet to let other devices (be they mobile or otherwise) know they are around, and switching on Nearby once would allow the functionality to work with all of a user's devices," it said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News