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Google has introduced a new feature for Android which alerts users as to things that could be helpful to them based on their location.Google’s Nearby for Android sees developers associating their mobile app or website with a beacon, utilising Bluetooth low energy, delivering location and proximity experiences.
Akshay Kannan, Nearby product manager, notes via a blog post that users can get more done with “the right app at the right moment”.
“For example, at a store, you may want a barcode scanner to check prices and reviews for an item,” Kannan writes. “Or when you’re at a museum, an audio tour would enhance the experience as you make your way around the exhibits.”
By way of example, Nearby could make notifications such as when exploring historical landmarks at the University of Notre Dame, downloading the audio tour when at The Broad in LA, or downloading the United Airlines app for free in-flight entertainment while waiting at a gate before boarding a flight.
Select Google devices, including Google Cast and Android Wear watches, also let users set them up by tapping a notification when near them.
Nearby can be used by turning on Bluetooth and Location, with notifications shown if a nearby app or website is available.
Once opted in, tapping on a notification takes users straight into the intended experience, while if users are not interested, they can swipe it away.
Nearby, which will work on Android 4.4 (KitKat) and above, has started rolling out to users as part of the upcoming Google Play Services release, Kannan advised.
