Google Launches “WifiNanScan App” To Connect Nearby Devices Without Bluetooth, Internet Connection

Google has launched a new app called “WifiNanScan App” on the Google Play store which helps nearby devices to connect with each other without without using the Bluetooth and internet connection.

The “WifiNanScan App” is meant for developers use. The app lets developers to validate/ measures distance between two devices and share data using WiFi Aware.

What is WiFi Aware?

WiFi Aware is known as the Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN). The WiFi Aware allows smartphones running on Android 8 and later versions to search, find and connect directly to each other without the need of any other type of connectivity between them.”

The protocol lets the nearby devices discovers each other and creates a data sharing network to send data or short messages among them.

As per the search giant, this Wi-Fi Aware network connections supports higher throughput rates across longer distances than Bluetooth connections.

What is the WifiNanScan App and how does it work

WifiNanScan App is designed as a research, demonstration, and testing tool for developers, vendors, universities, and more.

-Using this app, users can send a document to a printer without the need to first log onto the network.

-The app lets users to reserve a restaurant and view its menu while walking by it without an internet connection whether it is open or closed.

-The app also helps to automate and timestamp the check-ins and roll-call in a school.

-Using this app, users can replace their physical ID such as a driver’s license or passport with mobile identification. This helps travelers to easily pass the airport security, customs, and immigration process, traffic police without requiring to present a physical ID.

The WifiNanScan App (made by ‘Developed with Google’) Play Store listing gives us a bit more idea about it. “With this app it is possible to obtain a distance measurement with a precision of about 1 meter with phones up to 15 meters apart. Developers, OEMs and researchers can use this tool to validate distance/range measurements enabling the development of peer-to-peer ranging and data transfer, find my phone and context-aware applications based on the WiFi Aware/NAN API,” stated the listing.

It is worth adding that some enhancements have been made in Android 12 as well, when it comes to Wi-Fi Aware. It includes efficiency improvements and addressing lost connections.