MADRID, Dec. 9 (Portaltic/EP) – Apple and Google have taken an unusual step in their historic rivalry by collaborating on a new system for move data between iOS and Android which promises to make mobile phone changes much less cumbersome for users.
Until now, those who wanted to change platforms depended on apps. Move to iOS and Switch to Android, with results that in many cases left much to be desired: incomplete copies, occasional errors and, ultimately, an experience that discouraged more than one person from taking the plunge.
Both companies have confirmed They are building together a more direct data transfer method, which will work in an integrated way during the initial setup of the devices, without needing to rely exclusively on external applications.
The new system, which is being tested in early versions of software, aims to reduce compatibility issues The information formats of each platform already make it so that the user barely has to intervene beyond following a few steps on the screen.
From current apps to a system-integrated migration
Until now, the official way to switch from Android to iPhone was through the app Move to iOS, while to leave iOS and make the jump to Android the tool was Switch to Android (also referred to as Android Switch in some sources).
These utilities allow transfer contactsPhotos, videos, message history, and some of the user's basic data are copied, but not always with the expected accuracy: there are common reports of incomplete copies, missing chats, or settings lost along the way.
The idea now is not to delete those applications all at once.but rather to bring much of its logic into the operating system itself, so that the migration process becomes a native option in the device's startup wizard, with fewer steps, fewer dependencies, and more stability.
As reported by 9to5Google and confirmed by spokespeople for both tech companies, The new feature will be displayed during the setup wizard., that phase in which a new mobile phone is turned on for the first time and the language, WiFi and data recovery are chosen.
Testing on Android Canary and future arrival on iOS 26
The clearest indication of this change has been detected in the Android Canary build 2512 (ZP11.251121.010), an experimental version of the system aimed at developers and advanced users that Google uses as a testing ground.
In that build, available for the range Google PixelReferences have been found to a feature created jointly with Apple and aimed at facilitating the transfer of information during the initial phone setup.
Google has confirmed the veracity of these references 9to5Google, although without giving too many technical details about how communication with iPhones will be established or what specific protocols will be used for data exchange.
On Apple's side, the new feature is expected to arrive in a iOS 26 developer beta, where the necessary component would be activated so that iPhones can participate in this new cross-migration process with Android.
What does this new collaboration aim to resolve?
Current tools already allow us to move the essentials, but The experience is far from perfectIt depends on the quality of the connection, the model of each device, the available space, and even the version of the operating systems involved.
With native integration, Apple and Google are looking to encompass more types of data and reduce the likelihood of errors. On the table are elements that until now have been more problematic, such as certain application histories, advanced settings, icon layout, and user preferences.
The stated objective of both firms is simplify the entire process and eliminate incompatibilities that occur when an attempt is made to transfer information between two ecosystems that, by design, were not intended to understand each other at this level.
This move can also be interpreted as an attempt to lessen the feeling of being a "data prison," the idea that, once inside an operating system, Leaving means losing a part of your digital life. stored on the phone.
Impact on users and the European market
In Europe, where EU authorities have been pressing for years to improve technological interoperabilityThis initiative fits with the guidelines set by Brussels regarding competition and freedom of choice for consumers.
A more robust migration system can encourage many Spanish and European users to Switch platforms with less fearWhether due to price, features, or simple curiosity, they don't feel like they're leaving behind a significant portion of their personal information, such as contacts and photos.
In the mobile market, dominated by Android with approximately 72% market share And with iOS and the rest of the pie, the ability to move around without so much friction can alter, even if subtly, the usual dynamics of loyalty to the ecosystem.
For Android mobile phone manufacturers present in Europe, who are competing fiercely to gain market share against the iPhone, to have a more reliable migration from iOS It is an additional argument when it comes to convincing those who have been in the Apple universe for years.
A rare alliance between great rivals
In a sector where Apple and Google tend to act more like rivals than allies.Seeing them collaborate so directly on a key function of the operating system is, to say the least, striking.
There have been specific precedents, such as the improvement of systems in Direct transfer between Google Photos and iCloud Photoswhich allows you to move image libraries without having to download and re-upload them manually.
Now the scope is greater: This is the basic experience of changing your mobile phone., one of the moments when it becomes most noticeable whether an ecosystem retains or facilitates the departure of its users.
The fact that this collaboration is taking place at a time of increasing regulatory scrutiny, with new European regulations demanding more openness and fewer red tape, reinforces the idea that the two companies They are adapting to a more demanding environment in terms of competition and data portability.
What is known and what remains to be confirmed
For now, official information is limited: The companies confirm the joint work and its presence in Android Canary and future iOS betas, but they avoid committing to a specific global rollout date.
Canary versions, as the developers themselves remind us, are very early compilations whose content may vary considerably before reaching the general public, so it cannot be ruled out that the feature will change form or be launched gradually.
Nor has the exact list of content types that can be migrated been detailed, beyond the classic ones. contacts, photos, videos and messagesVarious specialized analyses assume that the ambition is to go beyond those minimums.
In any case, the mere fact that Apple and Google openly acknowledge the existence of this joint project indicates that the address is marked and that data exchange between iOS and Android will, sooner or later, be easier than it is today.
With this initiative, switching mobile devices between iOS and Android aims to move from a cumbersome process to a more guided, stable, and understandable one for the average user, who will be able to move a large part of your information without making things too complicated, in a context where the freedom to choose a platform is gaining ground against the fear of losing data.
