Google Launches A Feature That Can Connect Android With Windows PC

Fast Pair, a feature from Google to make Android phones and Windows PCs connected to each other. (photo: Doc. Google Developers)

JAKARTA - Google now has a feature to make Android phones and Windows PCs connected to each other, with Fast Pair.

Users can get more done through these two devices. Introduced at the prestigious IoT event, CES 2022, Google describes a number of improvements to how Android devices can connect to a larger ecosystem of technology products.

Fast Pair is actually already in use and pre-designed to help set up Bluetooth accessories with Android devices. But now, with support for Chromebooks and Windows, users can sync text messages from Android devices and even share files with Nearby Share between Android and Windows.

Google's Fast Pair service relies on Bluetooth Low Energy to help Android devices find nearby Bluetooth to connect to. Google says Fast Pair does not require excessive consumption of phone battery life. This feature can also be used on devices owned by Acer, HP, and Intel.

"(Fast Pair) allows instant setup and pairing of devices, opening companion apps for installation and transferring your Google credentials," Google said as quoted by Digital Trends, Thursday, January 6.

"We are continuing our work with partners to further expand Fast Pair functionality beyond audio connectivity with wearables, headphones, speakers, and cars and extend it to TVs and smart home devices, so you can start using all the devices in your life right away" he added.

Furthermore, Dell also has the same feature, namely Dell Mobile Connect is a similar solution for Microsoft's Your Phone, although it is exclusive to XPS, Alienware, and Inspiron PC consumers. This app has some of the same functionality as the Your Phone feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11, but it also works with the iPhone.

In its current state, Your Phone does not allow syncing text and photos with iPhone. Instead, it only lets users send web pages between iOS devices and Windows devices.

Unfortunately, Google didn't make it clear whether the Fast Pair feature would be coming to iOS. This new feature will be another way to be productive on Windows, as the release of Windows 11 brings features like Snap Groups, Widgets, and even integration with Microsoft Teams.