Is it possible, in principle, for an Android device to interact with the iPhone via Bluetooth / GameKit?

Question

(I am not interested in a pure theory, but as a practical near or medium term opportunity, say, within 12-24 months.)

As a developer familiar with (but not specializing in) the two main smartphone platforms, should I expect the arrival of an Android library that can trick itself into a GameKit-based iPhone. It seems reasonable that the Bluetooth interface between platforms can create opportunities for creating useful applications, just as modems used PC / Mac platforms through Metcalfe's law.

I am looking for one of two answers:

• Perhaps this is unlikely (e.g. due to encryption)? If so, what is the reason? Is it possible in principle, but it takes years of reverse engineering (for example, SMB / CIFS / Samba)? Or is it not easy and just a matter of time? Please provide evidence supporting your cause.

• Is there an alternative way to have a direct peer-to-peer network besides GameKit? For example, a manual network using Bluetooth or ad-hoc WiFi? It would be nice to fake an Android device into an existing iPhone app, but my main question is whether the devices can talk to each other at all!

Answer 1

Yes it is possible. GameKit is a protocol that uses TCP and / or UDP over a BNEP Bluetooth connection. It also uses the trick to identify other iOS devices using the advanced request mechanism in Bluetooth 2.1+.

I was able to simulate the EIR answers, now someone needs to redesign the GameKit protocol. This does not require Bluetooth, as it is also used for GameKit connections via WLAN.

If someone can reconnect GameKit for WLAN connections, I can end the Bluetooth version.

Answer 2

No, and it won't be soon or even at all ... Apple takes pride in its security features, and Bluetooth connections can access personal data. There will probably not be any cross-platform bluetooth platform until something is agreed upon by both companies.

Bump, as the previous responder said, uses a remote server, and the data is not transmitted via BT.

Answer 3

GameKit is Bonjour, so Bonjour (which is on IP) via Bluetooth on Android should work.

Answer 4

This should be possible since Bluetooth is able to configure tcp / ip networks. Although I don’t know the IPhone SDK at all, Android has BluetoothSocket and BluetoothServerSocket for TCP connections.

Answer 5

This article, http://blog.moritzhaarmann.de/blog/2014/04/27/sorry-state-of-p2p/ , written in 2014, offers it through Bluetooth LE . Available on Android 4.3+ and iOS6 +

Two questions:

• According to Android Dashboard, only about 30 percent of Android devices support Bluetooth LE https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html?utm_source=ausdroid.net
• The connection between Android-Android must be done using a different method (which is not a big problem) since Android devices cannot act as a server for B LE connections.

Answer 6

Bounjour on iPhone gives you full access to all Bluetooth protocols, so you don't need to use GameKit. As for when someone provides an easy-to-use iPhone for Android GameKit, such as a framework, it's hard to say.

The iPhone can already talk to any other Bluetooth device using Bonjour today.

-t

Answer 7

It is absolutely possible! In fact, I am amazed that more people did not!

Theory:

Bluetooth is just a wireless socket that you move with data, and it meets the other side, just like tcp / ip.

Practice:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/11/bump-goes-cross-platform-with-new-android-app-upgrades-iphone-version-too/

Even better, Bump is cross-platform, which means you can run into an Android phone with an iPhone and it should work without problems.