The time for AirTags has not yet arrived, or as Apple’s small devices will be called, which should be used to track objects. the subject of long-standing hypotheses and discussions, could be presented in the online event scheduled for April. In the meantime, however, the infrastructure that will allow the Air Tags to function is expanding. Apple has just officially announced the launch of support for using its Find My network with third-party accessories.
Find My was first used to locate iPhones, then iPads and other Apple products. It can now be used to find non-Apple products that integrate with the Cupertino localization platform. “The Find My Network Accessory Program opens Dov’è’s extensive global network to other device manufacturers, who will be able to integrate the service into their products and allow customers to use the Dov’è app to track down other items they they hold, ”a company note reads. “The new Belkin, Chipolo and VanMoof products compatible with the Where’s app will be available starting next week.
“For more than a decade, our customers have relied on Where’s to locate lost or stolen Apple devices without jeopardizing their privacy,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Now, with the Find My Network Accessory Program, we are giving even more people the opportunity to take advantage of the powerful features of Find My, one of our most popular services. We can’t wait to see how Belkin, Chipolo, VanMoof and other partners will use this technology. ”
Among the products announced, two VanMoof e-bikes, an updated version of an existing key fob tracker that will be launched in June, and the previously announced Belkin earphones that will also be launched in June: “The latest S3 and X3 e-bikes from VanMoof, Belkin’s SOUNDFORM Freedom True Wireless earphones and the Chipolo ONE Spot locator are the first group of innovative third-party accessories that work with Find My, ”the note continues. “These products will allow users to locate where they left off their run, their headphones at the gym, their backpack, and so much more. Other third-party device manufacturers will soon offer Find My-enabled products and accessories. ”
Apple’s system allows devices to be located even if they are not connected to the internet: the Dov’è network is in fact a crowdsourcing network made up of hundreds of millions of devices, which uses Bluetooth technology to detect lost or nearby devices. and then report their approximate location to their rightful owners. The process is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous – no one, not even Apple or another manufacturer, can access the device’s location or data.