Sources say Android 15 phones / tablets will get NFC updates directly from Google Play Store

CTOnews.com, May 18, according to SamMobile, Google announced the launch of Project Mainline for Android in 2019, which aims to separate the key components of Android from the operating system itself. In this way, Google can provide updates to modules directly through Play Store. This means that if Google introduces updates to key components of its operating system, users don't have to wait for their handset manufacturer to include it in the next OTA update, and users can get an upgrade directly from Google Play Store.

So far, Google has decoupled many key components from Android, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and UWB. Now, Google is taking the same approach to NFC. Mishaal Rahman found the relevant source code in AOSP (CTOnews.com Note: Android Open Source Project), indicating that Google is making the NFC stack a Mainline module (separate from the operating system), which will enable Google to provide updates through Google Play Store to quickly fix any problems with NFC components.

According to Mishaal, the latest changes may not be included in the final version of Android 14. The way to make the NFC stack a Mainline module has just appeared in AOSP, which means you'll see it in Android 15 as soon as possible.