Summary
- Code found in Google Play Services beta 24.50.32 suggests that Google is developing Fast Pair support for hearing aids.
- Fast Pair support would allow for fast and seamless connections, similar to how pairing works with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or any other modern wireless earbuds.
- This comes shortly after Android 15 introduced support for hearing aids with Bluetooth LE Audio, in addition to audio streaming for hearing aids.
In October of last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) essentially ordered Android OEMs to step up and improve hearing aid support and compatibility with the devices. The commission mandated that all smartphones (including iPhones) in the United States be compatible with hearing aids.
For what it’s worth, the majority of Google Pixel devices, Samsung’s line of smartphones and foldables, and iPhones already support hearing aids – but the FCC wants these manufacturers to abandon their proprietary Bluetooth standards and opt for one universally compatible.
Related
The FCC Just Ordered Android OEMs to Step Up Their Hearing Aid Game
Hearing aid compatibility on all Android phones
With Android 15, Google took a step in the right direction by introducing several improvements for hearing aid users, including support for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio, in addition to the existing Audio Streaming for Hearing protocol Aids (ASHA). Now it appears Google is working to further improve the Android experience for hearing aid users, and this comes in the form of code hints found in Google Play Services 24.50.32 beta.
As spotted by Android Authorityhearing aids could soon be compatible with Google’s fast pair – the tech giant’s standard for allowing Bluetooth LE accessories to quickly and seamlessly pair with your smartphone.
This is not speculation: the code found explicitly indicates incoming support
Related
What is Google Fast Pair and how to use it
It makes it easy to pair Bluetooth devices with Android devices.
In theory, Google’s implementation should allow Bluetooth LE Audio-enabled hearing aids to pair seamlessly with Android devices, essentially just by bringing the two devices together. There are already several hearing aids on the market that support Bluetooth LE Audio, including ReSound Nexia, Philips HearLink 50, Jabra Enhance Pro 20and more.
The beta explicitly mentions a code string “fast_pair_enable_hearing_aid_pairing” as well as the inclusion of “HEARING_AID” in the list of supported Fast Pair devices. Other product categories on the list include headphones, speakers, wearables, keyboards, portable printers, and more. This is a clear indication that the tech giant is indeed developing support to make the pairing experience much smoother for hearing aid users than it has traditionally been.
