Google plans to bring new cross-device features to Android

What do you want to know

• Google plans to expand cross-device services to Android devices, and the features are already available after enabling developer flags.
• New features include Call Cast, Wi-Fi Sharing, and Hotspot Sharing, and will be available via a Google Play Services update.
• Cross-device services are already available on Chromebooks, but more Android phones and tablets will be added to the mix.

Android phones and tablets will soon get powerful multi-device features thanks to a software update, according to the Android leaker. @AssembleDebug on X (via Android Font). The expert was able to enable a new cross-device sharing settings menu by reversing a number of developer flags, suggesting the features are close to release.

The tools will be available as part of Google’s cross-device services, which already work with Chromebooks and Android phones. Google wants to make using these devices together simple and convenient, and recent updates have brought key sharing features to both platforms. However, it’s not as simple to use multiple Android phones and tablets together, especially compared to something like Apple’s ecosystem.

This is what Google likely wants to improve with a future software update. After enabling developer flags, the Devices and sharing The Android menu now offers a Cross-device services tongue. Google explains the feature set as helping you “easily find and share with other devices connected to your Google account.”

It starts by creating a device group that tells Google which Android devices you own should work together. “Devices with the same Google Account can be added to a device group and use cross-device services together,” the page explains. You can press the Add this device to add the device you are currently using to the group or select Invite your other devices to send a notification to others.

With a device group and multi-device services, you can use Call Cast, Wi-Fi Sharing, and Hotspot Sharing features.

Call Cast will allow you to move calls from one device to another within a device group. For example, you can send a phone call from your phone to your tablet if that’s more convenient. Then you can divert the call to your phone – or another – as you see fit.

Internet or Wi-Fi sharing is a simple but useful feature. It allows users to let their other devices connect to a single device’s Wi-Fi or hotspot network.

Since Cross-Device Services now works on Android with the developer flags reversed, it stands to reason that the features aren’t too far from release. It might make sense that these features would debut as part of the March Feature Drop, but it’s worth noting that Google hasn’t publicly revealed any of them yet.