It seems like Google is about to give Apple a taste of its own medicine. The search giant is reportedly working on an iOS app called “Switch to Android.” In the past, Apple has made attempts to bridge the gap between Android and iPhone by releasing an app called Move To iOS.
As the name suggests, this is a one-way road and the app only lets you migrate Android data to your iPhone.
Google’s Switch to Android app is in the making
The unreleased app has been spotted by XDA developers during an APK teardown of the Data Restore Tool that was recently published on Google Play. However, we should take this with a grain of salt as nothing is confirmed.
The teardown suggests that the Switch To Android app will be available on the App Store. It will let users migrate their iOS data to Android over a WiFi hotspot connection created by the target Android device.
We are yet to know what kind of data the app will migrate and whether it will include third-party apps as well. For reference, Apple’s Move To iOS app lets you sync data like Contacts, Message history, Camera photos and videos, Bookmarks, Calendar, and Mail.
However, the source code reveals the app might allow users to transfer their iOS WhatsApp chats to Android. The user will have to scan a QR code using their iPhone and keep the device unlocked. It’s suggested that this option will only act as a mediator for the rumored WhatsApp chat transfer feature.
What can you do right now?
While the tool is in the works and the release date is uncertain, there are some methods you can explore if you want to migrate your data. For example, you can sync Android contacts with your iPhone without copying them.
If you dig on the web, you’ll find a Google webpage called Switch To Android, which details the process of installing Google Drive and back up your iPhone data. It also recommends that you turn off your iMessage and Facetime for easier migration.
Google’s upcoming dedicated app will be several steps forward in this direction. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
