Apple launches Move to iOS content migration tool for Android

In conjunction with iOS 9, Apple on Wednesday released Move to iOS, a tool for switching away from Android that is also its first-ever app custom-developed for Google's rival operating system.

As its name implies, Move to iOS is designed simply to migrate data from an Android device to a new iPhone or iPad. Users can transfer their contacts, calendars, photos, videos, browser bookmarks, email accounts, and even their SMS history.

During the transfer process, iOS establishes a private Wi-Fi network and connects with the Android device. Entering a security code authorizes copying data and configuring apps like Mail.

The app also tries to identify which Android apps have counterparts on the App Store, and can download free ones automatically and place any paid apps on an iTunes Wish List.

Move to iOS is a free download, and runs on any device with Android 4.0 or later.

Although Google has a number of apps on iOS, Apple has largely avoided anything to do with Android as a way of keeping people in its hardware ecosystem. Until now its only Android presence has been Beats Music, which Apple acquired in 2014 and will soon be shut down after the company finishes migrating people over to Apple Music.

To do that, though, Apple will release an Apple Music app for Android sometime in the near future. The service has so far been restricted to iOS and iTunes, and in fact won't show up on the Apple TV until October.