Google Bluetooth 'Fast Pair' Expands to More Android Phones

Google's "Fast Pair" Bluetooth characteristic—which debuted on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 40 and offers a quicker way to help you pair Bluetooth devices—is at present rolling out to devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow and above.

"Ease of use, speed and security are the design principles driving the Fast Pair specification," Google Product Managers Ritesh Nayak Thou and Ronald Ho wrote in a Tuesday post on the Android Developers Blog.

The characteristic "uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) for ad and discovery and uses classic Bluetooth for pairing," they explained. First, plow on a Fast Pair-enabled peripheral and put it in pairing mode. And so, once Android discovers a Fast Pair packet (you'll need Bluetooth and Location enabled on your device for this to happen), you'll get a notification asking you to "Tap to pair" to the accessory.

That notification will include the proper noun and image of the product to which yous're virtually to connect. Then, only tap the notification, and voila. Once connected, y'all'll get a success notification with a link to download the device'southward companion app, if in that location is 1.

At this point, but a few peripherals support Fast Pair, including the upcoming Google Pixel Buds and the Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear headphones. Plantronics Voyager 8200 series wireless headsets will also back up Fast Pair in the near future. Bluetooth accessory makers interested in adopting Fast Pair can sign up here.

Google says this new process is a win-win for users and Bluetooth device manufacturers. "Users get a seamless and secure pairing experience and confidence that they're connecting to the correct product," Nayak M and Ho wrote. "Manufacturers go their brand, device proper name, and companion app in forepart of the users."

Nearly Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's skilful on fitness and smart home products. Teaching yoga for nearly ten years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fettle trackers, heart charge per unit monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, forcefulness training machines, treadmills, and more than. Angela as well tests smart abode devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to proper name a few.