iPhone and Android phones are completely interoperable! But I advise you not to be happy too early

Before starting today’s article, Xiaolei would like to ask my friends a question:

Are there any users here who can convert between iOS and Android systems? What is the biggest difficulty for you?

Everyone’s answer is definitely different. The degree of system openness, operating habits, and ecological surroundings are all issues.

Not only that, because the data between iPhone and Android phones are not interoperable, the replacement cost is not low!

Image source: Internet

You guys have to think about it, the APP has to be downloaded again, the account has to be logged in again, and the photos and videos have to be transferred.

So, in many cases, it’s not that users on both sides are unwilling to change their tastes, but that it’s too troublesome to transfer data to each other.

My relatives and friends asked Xiaolei to recommend mobile phones, and I advised them to continue upgrading their phones according to the original system.

However, Xiaolei wanted to say no again. This situation may not last long, Apple has new actions.

iOS and Android may be interoperable

Thanks to the openness of the Android system, it is actually relatively simple to transfer data from Android phones to iPhone.

Not only are there many third-party APPs, but Apple’s official website also lists detailed transfer tutorials to help you step by step.

However, it is troublesome to transfer from iPhone to Android phone. For no other reason than iOS is very restrictive and closed.

You said it can't be transferred out at all, but that's not true. It just can't be done in one step, which makes people think there is a threshold for switching.

But, there is news recently that Apple is going to take action regarding the transfer of iPhones to Android phones!

Source: Apple’s official website

On March 7, Apple updated a document called “Apple’s Non-Confidential Summary of DMA Compliance Report” on its official website.

Translates to "Non-confidential Summary of Apple's DMA Compliance Report". It looks very profound, but it is actually an announcement of some measures made by Apple based on the EU's "Digital Market Law".

Source: Apple official website

This document is very long, Xiaolei read it carefully several times and found the highlights.

To help users transfer data between different operating systems, Apple is developing a new solution.

Help mobile operating system providers develop more user-friendly solutions for transferring data from iPhone to non-Apple phones.

Nowadays, in the mobile phone industry, mobile phones equipped with mainstream operating systems, in addition to iPhone, are Android and Hongmeng phones.

So, although Apple did not say that it would be a transmission tool, opening the interface can be considered a good start.

In the future, mobile phone manufacturers or third-party developers will be able to use the interface to develop tools for transferring data from iOS to Android.

With this, it will be a matter of minutes to switch from iPhone to Android phone, and those who switch will be delighted!

Well, Argo currently plans to launch this solution in the fall of 2025, which is less than 2 years from now.

Source: Apple’s official website

However, can this solution eventually be implemented in China? It's still an unknown number, and Xiaolei doesn't dare to guarantee it.

Because Apple responded based on the "Digital Market Law", it is very likely that this plan will only apply to the EU region.

After all, I just talked to everyone a few days ago. After Apple opened sideloading, it imposed restrictions in order to prevent the European version of iPhone from being leaked.

If the European version of iPhone is not in the place where it belongs for a long time, it will be restricted from using third-party stores and downloaded apps.

So, Xiaolei guesses that the new device replacement tool may also have troublesome operations similar to geographical restrictions, right?

But we will see it next fall. Let us look forward to seeing if Aguo can treat everyone equally this time.

By the way, in addition to tinkering with how iPhones and non-Apple phones can transfer data to each other, Apple is also tinkering with browsers.

Well, Apple plans to export and import related browser data to another browser on the same device.

This is also to facilitate users to switch browsers easily, and is also an adjustment based on the "Digital Market Law".

This adjustment plan will arrive faster than the above, and will be available to us at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Source: Internet

Mobile phone interoperability has become a trend

In terms of interconnection, Apple is actually late to the game, and the Android camp is already far ahead in this regard.

In August 2019, led by Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo, the short-range wireless ecological standardization alliance and its promotion standards based on Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth were established to this day.

Members of the alliance can perform efficient file transfer and data migration across brands without traffic. It is somewhat similar to Apple's Airdrop, focusing on convenience.

Compared with relying on Bluetooth and third-party APPs to transmit data in the early years, the mutual transmission that comes with mobile phones is much higher in terms of transmission speed, stability and convenience.

Currently, the Mutual Communication Alliance already has the following brand members, covering hundreds of millions of users. Xiaolei also hopes that more mobile phone brands will join.

Source: Screenshot of Xiaolei’s mobile phone

The optical file transfer is not over yet. The time has come to March 22, 2023, and Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo have officially announced it.

These three brands have reached a cooperation. In addition to system data such as photos and contacts, the mutual transfer APP has been upgraded to a designated version and has added support for migrating third-party application data.

In other words, it is equivalent to making the replacement of these three brands straightforward and hassle-free. Everyone understands the value of "one-click replacement".

Almost a year has passed, and no other brands have joined this deeper mutual communication. I hope that mobile phone manufacturers will discuss cooperation again and strive to add a few more new members this year.

Picture source: Weibo @OriginOS original system

Also in 2021, leading mobile phone manufacturers such as Huami OV established a fast charging alliance for fast charging compatibility, and took the lead in launching the "Mobile Terminal Integrated Fast Charging" Technical Specifications".

Although various mobile phone manufacturers have not decentralized their top fast charging power, some models use tens of W of fast charging power, which is a good thing.

On the other hand, the Aguo family has the fastest fast charging power now. Hey, Xiaolei is too lazy to complain, everyone knows it.

Picture source: Telecommunications Terminal Industry Association

Finally

Thinking it all down, we can actually see the efforts that domestic mobile phone manufacturers have made in interconnection in recent years.

From the initial file transfer, to the one-click device replacement, to the compatibility of fast charging power, it is really thoughtful.

In the fields of future technology, software and hardware, cooperation between enterprises will also be a major trend. After all, "more people are more powerful".

Having said that, Xiaolei still hopes that Apple will take the "Digital Market Law" as an opportunity to relax restrictions on data transmission as soon as possible.

Let Android and iOS users save some time on switching phones.

Cover image source: Apple & Google

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