android: Google may make it easier to switch from iPhone to Android – Times of India

While there are more than a billion activated iPhones in the world, there are users who may want to switch to the world of Android for a variety of reasons. Moving from one major platform to another is rather tricky as one has to keep in mind how to transfer all the data without losing anything. Users often don’t switch because of all the hassle it might bring. Google, however, is now working on making it easier for iPhone users who want to switch to Android.
According to a report by 9to5Google, Google has a new app — still in the works — that is simply called “Switch to Android”. The app, however, is still ‘unlisted’ on the Apple App Store. The report explains that the app has been soft-launched, which means it is not accessible to everyone yet and is an ‘unlisted’ app.

What is an unlisted app on App Store?

Apple earlier this year launched an app store feature that allowed organisations, and developers to release their apps that aren’t suited for public distribution. These apps are discoverable only with a direct link. Unlisted apps don’t appear in any App Store categories, recommendations, charts, search results, or other listings. They can also be accessed through Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager. Apps for specific organisations, special events, research studies, or apps used as employee resources or sales tools are good candidates for unlisted distribution. These apps can be distributed to limited audiences (part-time employees, franchisees, partners, business affiliates, higher-education students, or conference attendees).

How will the Switch to Android app work?

According to 9to5Google, its APK Insight team could “successfully install Switch to Android on an iPhone, and run it.”The app, as per the report, will tell you what all it will copy — photos, videos, contacts — from the iPhone to an Android phone. The next step will be to scan a QR code that will appear on your Android phone, which will create a hotspot to connect to the iPhone. The data will then start getting copied and once it’s done users will be reminded to disable iMessage. The last step, according to the report, is to transfer all the iCloud data into Google Drive. All this does sound quite simple and easy to do. The report, however, says that while things look ready on iPS, “Android’s setup and restore process is not yet prepared for the Switch to Android app’s availability.”
Apple, meanwhile, has had a Move to the iOS app on Google Play Store for many years now. It remains to be seen when Google officially launches this app.