Simulation of near-field communications

A computing device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one module operable by the at least one processor to:
• identify one or more wireless broadcast signals that are each associated with a name that conforms to a specified wireless naming scheme;
• responsive to identifying a particular wireless broadcast signal that is associated with a respective name conforming to the specified wireless naming scheme, determine a signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal;
• determine a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting the particular wireless signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device, wherein determining the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device is based at least in part on (1) a type of the computing device, (2) a type of the remote device broadcasting the particular wireless broadcast signal, and (3) the signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal;
• and
• responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, initiate an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device.

A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a computing device to:

• identify one or more wireless broadcast signals that are each associated with a name that conforms to a specified wireless naming scheme;
• responsive to identifying a particular wireless broadcast signal that is associated with a respective name conforming to the specified wireless naming scheme, determine a signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal;
• determine a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting the particular wireless signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device, wherein determining the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device is based at least in part on (1) a type of the computing device, (2) a type of the remote device broadcasting the particular wireless broadcast signal, and (3) the signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal;
• and
• responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, initiate an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device.