Google unveils Android Beam, uses NFC technology to transfer data between Android devices

During the Galaxy Nexus/Ice Cream Sandwich event happening right now, Google has just introduced a new feature called Android Beam.

Taking full advantage of the Nexus’ NFC capabilities, Android Beam will allow users to share content by simply bumping two NFC-enabled Android devices together. There aren’t any menus or applications to launch, however. After establishing a connection the sharing UI will appear allowing you to share music, contacts, apps (link to market), videos, and “almost anything”. Users simply touch the screen to share the content they’re currently viewing.

Of course, the phones wont actually have to touch, much like third-party apps with similar functionality using bluetooth, the devices can be up to a few centimeters apart. Google notes that developers interested in initiating connections with larger payloads can also send data over Bluetooth without “user-visible pairing”. Screenshot and Video demo after the break.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HrBRhm-wKFc]