I am currently doing research on the topic of WiFi-Aware which is supported on Android since Oreo. While doing so I struggle to find any information concerning the following question:

Is there any way to enable WiFi-Aware / Neigbhor Awarness Networking on a PC running either Windows or Linux? So that you could advertise services to nearby mobile phones?

How can I solve this?

1

1 Answer

Wi-Fi Aware is basically vaporware everywhere except Android.

Wi-Fi Aware / NAN is a descendent of the Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) technology that Apple pioneered in iOS (and a year later, macOS) for AirDrop and some AirPlay scenarios. I believe it's also used for Handoff (where an app on your iPhone can send its state to a partner app on macOS, or vice-versa, so you can switch a task from laptop to mobile and back with ease). I think AWDL is also used a few other things, like the way a Mac can trigger mobile hotspot mode on a nearby iPhone.

I don't think Apple provides any APIs for third parties to leverage AWDL. But if you wanted to play with those pre-packaged uses, get a Mac and an iPhone and have fun.

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