SnapLinx, by Arctec Mobile Inc., is a smartphone app that allows files and links to be shared with nearby smartphones in an ad hoc setting. Based on patent-pending methods, SnapLinx may be used to share files such as presentations in a meeting or conference, photos in a gathering, flyers for proximity marketing, or links to webpages without collecting the email addresses or phone numbers of the users of the nearby smartphones.
Rather than sharing files and links using direct device-to-device connections over Bluetooth or WiFi, SnapLinx uses a server-based approach. Upon user command to share a file or link through SnapLinx, SnapLinx manages the upload of a file or link over WiFi or cellular data to a remote server. The sending smartphone then transmits one-way SnapLinx Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertisements, which can be received by nearby smartphones with SnapLinx installed to provide a notification on the receiving device. Clicking on the notification will download and open the file or link in a viewer. Files and links stored on the remote server are accessible for 12 hours before being automatically deleted. Files and links may also be manually deleted by the sender. The file size limit is 10MB, and up to four files or links may be stored on the server at a time.
SnapLinx offers several advantages over file or link transfers using direct device-to-device connections, such as iOS AirDrop: a sending smartphone can reach iOS and non-iOS smartphones with SnapLinx installed, all users of nearby smartphones that receive a notification can immediately and simultaneously download the shared file or link over WiFi or cellular data, or can download the shared file or link for up to 12 hours after receiving a notification, even if they are no longer within the BLE range of the sending smartphone.
SnapLinx will initially be available as a free app for iOS 13+ smartphones.