ANDROID'S FIND MY DEVICE GEARS UP FOR MAJOR UPGRADE WITH APPLE AIRTAG TECHNOLOGY

Software developer Google has readied its Find My Device network for a substantial update, adding ultra-wideband technology similar to Apple’s AirTags to boost location tracking accuracy on Android devices.

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The company’s latest app update contains code revealing this enhancement, offering precise item-finding capabilities for users. For Android owners, app creators, and market analysts, this upgrade represents a significant improvement in Google’s tracking system, aligning it closer to Apple’s Find My network.

The Find My Device network currently uses GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi to locate devices and trackers, supporting offline searches across over 3 billion Android phones worldwide. The integration of ultra-wideband technology will allow compatible Android devices to pinpoint lost items with greater detail, narrowing locations to specific areas within a space. This development enhances Google’s ecosystem, directly competing with Apple’s AirTag precision tracking feature.

Google has not specified a launch timeline for the upgrade, but the app’s code indicates active development, with support planned for devices like the Pixel 8 Pro and upcoming Pixel 9 series. This move aims to elevate user convenience in a market where exact location tracking has become a critical feature, spurred by Apple’s AirTag prominence.

ULTRA-WIDEBAND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES LOCATION ACCURACY

Google’s Find My Device app update includes code references to ultra-wideband technology, a short-range wireless system that enhances tracking precision beyond standard Bluetooth limits. This technology, featured in Apple’s AirTags, measures distance and direction to a tracker with high accuracy, often within a few centimeters. Android devices with ultrawideband chips, such as the Pixel 8 Pro, will enable this feature once fully implemented.