Just a few months after purchasing Bump, Google will shutter the service that lets people exchange data by physically bumping smartphones. January 2, 2014 11:19 AM PST Google is shutting down Bump and its unique technology for exchanging files, photos, and contacts, but don't be surprised to see it return in other Google services. (Credit: Screenshot by Jennifer Van Grove/CNET) Google has bumped off Bump. The photo, contact, and file-sharing service will close its doors at the end of the month, Bump CEO and co-founder David Lieb said on Tuesday. Related stories: Moto G for Verizon lands at Best Buy for $100 with no contract Google Glass prescription frames said to start at $99 Google goes disco for New Year's doodle Google opens Glass purchase to All Access music users Mental breakthrough! Katy Perry cancels Google Alerts Bump and its companion app for sharing photo albums, Flock, were purchased by Google in September for an undisclosed sum that was rumored to be around $35 million. Bump let people exchange data via a connection established by physically bumping smartphones against each other. The service, for both Android and iOS, uses the device's accelerometer as opposed to near-field communication (NFC). NFC is in most newer Android phones and tablets, but Apple has yet to include it in iPhones or iPads. Bump's innovations and patents were likely a major reason that Google purchased the company, so although Bump is closing, it wouldn't be surprising to see the tech show up in other Google services such as Google+ sooner rather than later. "We are now deeply focused on our new projects within Google," Lieb said, explaining why the services were shutting down. Bump users will be able to export their data before the service stops by following instructions in the app.
Just a few months after purchasing Bump, Google will shutter the service that lets people exchange data by physically bumping smartphones.
Google is shutting down Bump and its unique technology for exchanging files, photos, and contacts, but don't be surprised to see it return in other Google services.
(Credit: Screenshot by Jennifer Van Grove/CNET)
Google has bumped off Bump. The photo, contact, and file-sharing service will close its doors at the end of the month, Bump CEO and co-founder David Lieb said on Tuesday.
Related stories:
- Moto G for Verizon lands at Best Buy for $100 with no contract
- Google Glass prescription frames said to start at $99
- Google goes disco for New Year's doodle
- Google opens Glass purchase to All Access music users
- Mental breakthrough! Katy Perry cancels Google Alerts
Bump and its companion app for sharing photo albums, Flock, were purchased by Google in September for an undisclosed sum that was rumored to be around $35 million.
Bump let people exchange data via a connection established by physically bumping smartphones against each other. The service, for both Android and iOS, uses the device's accelerometer as opposed to near-field communication (NFC). NFC is in most newer Android phones and tablets, but Apple has yet to include it in iPhones or iPads. Bump's innovations and patents were likely a major reason that Google purchased the company, so although Bump is closing, it wouldn't be surprising to see the tech show up in other Google services such as Google+ sooner rather than later.
"We are now deeply focused on our new projects within Google," Lieb said, explaining why the services were shutting down. Bump users will be able to export their data before the service stops by following instructions in the app.
