Google launches unauthorised Pixel-to-iPhone file sharing with Apple’s AirDrop

To receive files from friends and family using Android phones, iPhone users must configure their AirDrop settings to show them as a recipient to 'everyone for 10 minutes'. — Unsplash

Alphabet Inc’s Google said it has developed a way for its latest Pixel smartphones to exchange images and other files with iPhones using Apple Inc’s AirDrop protocol, a bold attempt to undermine the exclusivity of its rival’s closely guarded ecosystem.

AirDrop, which has been around for over a decade, is built into Apple's software platforms, allowing for fast, wireless file transfers between iPhones, iPads and Macs. Google has a similar feature for Android called Quick Share.