Google has decided to postpone the broader rollout of its Find My Device feature, citing personal safety as the primary concern. Both Google and Apple have proposed an industry specification, but it is not yet fully prepared. In a recent blog post, Google’s Erik Kay emphasized that user safety and preventing unwanted location tracking are of utmost importance to Android. Hence, they have chosen to delay the Find My Device network’s expansion until Apple introduces safeguards for iOS.
At the I/O 2023 keynote, Google unveiled its plan to use millions of existing Android devices to help users locate their missing gadgets, including phones, compatible accessories, and a new wave of Bluetooth item trackers. The approach resembles Apple’s Find My network in many ways. Originally, the comprehensive Find My Device network was scheduled for a summer launch.
However, Google has now decided to wait until Apple also includes native alerts for unknown trackers in iOS. Apple already offers this feature for its AirTags, and eventually, it will extend to trackers compatible with Google’s Find My Device network. Until both major mobile platforms can effectively identify such trackers, Google is reluctant to release new ones.
In the inaugural joint communiqué, Apple and Google articulated their objective to “unveil a production implementation of the specification for unwelcome tracking alerts by the culmination of 2023, which shall subsequently garner support in forthcoming iterations of iOS and Android.” It seems that Google’s preliminary timeline for the broader Find My Device network might have been excessively sanguine.
As of now, Google has not provided a new timetable for the launch of the enhanced tracking network. Consequently, accessory maker Chipolo had to postpone the release of its first compatible trackers.
Regarding unknown tracker alerts, Google has announced that starting this month, many Android phones will alert users when an unknown AirTag is detected and traveling with them, separated from its owner. This system-level prompt does not require the download of any separate apps, similar to what Apple had previously introduced.
Upon receiving the notification, users can learn more about the tracker and view a map of its travels. Furthermore, they can activate the “Play sound” option to help locate the tracker without alerting the owner of the tracker.