The last five minutes of a meeting
You have agreed on a report, reviewed a set of deliverables, or identified the documents needed for the next step. Then the conversation pauses while someone searches for a contact, spells an address, or works out which shared folder the other person can open. Nearby is being built for this moment: choose a person who has made their device available, confirm the connection, and offer the package you have just discussed.
A handoff both people participate in
Both participants need a ZipPigeon account, an unlocked workspace, and a compatible iOS app. Each turns on sharing and keeps the app open. The sender selects a participating device. On their first connection, both people check the displayed account and device, compare the complete pairing code, and confirm. After that, the sender offers a prepared package and the receiver chooses whether to accept it. File access is released only after that approval.
Useful when the work returns to the same people
A monthly client review should not need the same device setup every month. A valid saved pairing lets returning devices recognize the same accounts without another code comparison. Each new package still needs the receiver’s approval. If someone changes phones or accounts, resets their sharing identity, or forgets the pairing, the new connection needs confirmation. The convenience comes from remembering an agreed connection, while the decision to receive files stays current.
Three situations we have in mind
Nearby fits an intentional exchange with someone present. The package and the recipient matter more than the size of the room.
- A consultant and client finish a review: the consultant offers the agreed report, and the client checks the title before accepting.
- An agency presents final assets: the account lead receives the selected deliverables without the meeting requiring a new shared-folder membership.
- Two colleagues finish a site visit: one offers the prepared document package, and the other opens it while they can still discuss what is missing.
Nearby people, internet delivery
The devices use local discovery to find participating peers, while file contents still use ZipPigeon’s encrypted upload and delivery service. Internet access is required on both sides. This distinction matters when planning a handoff at a venue with poor connectivity: seeing the other phone does not mean the file has been uploaded or downloaded. Optional distance and direction guidance on supported phones can help find the selected device, but precise ranging is not required to share.
Availability: the apps are coming soon
Nearby is currently available in compatible native test builds. We have not announced a public release date for the apps. During prelaunch, ordinary browsers do not expose the operational Nearby interface; browser workspace access is planned for after app-store availability. This preview describes the intended experience, not a download invitation. ZipPigeon’s existing encrypted file delivery remains available through the website while we prepare the app release.
Keep the boundaries of a file handoff clear
Nearby requires accounts and an explicit decision for each offer. It does not give a paired device access to browse your workspace. Once access is delivered, existing file expiry, download limits, and revocation still apply. A full file link and its key can be passed on, and nobody can promise to recall a file another person has already saved. Choose the package, confirm the recipient, and agree on how the downloaded copy should be handled.
Prepare your next handoff now
Even before Nearby is public, the useful habits are the same. Select the correct files, give the package a recognizable title, verify the destination account or communication channel, and allow enough time for the recipient to open it. Our in-person handoff guide walks through those decisions. The pairing guide explains why a remembered connection and permission for a new file remain separate, and the security page describes the service’s protections and limits.