Apple Find My Network Explained

Find My network is now open for 3rd party developers and manufacturers. Find out what it is all about and what it takes to be in Posted by erwinkarim on 3:25 PM, April 12, 2021 Last updated on 10:28 AM, April 14, 2021 Filed in: apple, explained,

Table of Contents

On April 2021, Apple has open up their Find My app for 3rd party manufacturers and developers. This allows them to use ‘Find My’ network, which in turn, allows the devices to be discoverable in Find My app. The Find My Network is a part of a larger initiative by Apple called ‘Made for iPhone’ where Apple certifies 3rd party product to be used with Apple product. This includes Lighting cable (a standard which Apple creates and controls), HomeKit, Apple CarPlay and AirPlay Audio.


By opening up the 'Find My' network to 3rd party manufacturer, the Find My app can locate other items, like in this example, your missing bike somewhere in Central Park.

Plug: Audiable allows you to listen to your favorite books while on the go. Sign up today for a free 30-day trial. Click on the link below:-

3rd Party Launch devices for Find My Feature


Apple introduce the bikes from VanMoof which one of the first manufacturer to use 'Find My' network to location your bike

During the announcement of the service, Apple introduced two manufacturers that has utilize the ‘Find My’ network feature. Both devices can be registered in Apple’s Find My app. They are bikes from VanMoof and bluetooth tags from Chipolo.

A wireless headphones by SOUNDFORM Freedom by Belkin is also shown but availability for such product is expected to be in Spring.

Backstory: VanMoof spent around 9 months developing the find my feature and work closely with Apple to build such future for launch announcement. The work started after WWDC 2020 and started with a posting in Apple developer’s forum. With both companies has offices in San Francisco, the collabration kicked off with weekly meetings and prototype bikes. Story was found in MacRumors and iCulture (article in Dutch)


Another manufacturer that is featured is the Chipolo bluetooth tags which utilize the 'Find My' network.

Made for iPhone

Made for iPhone (MFi) is a program curated by Apple to allow third party manufacturers and developers to make authorized Accessories for Apple devices such as iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple Watch. In exchange for such program, Apple will allow the manufacturers to use the appropriate labels, sell them through the both physical and online store. To apply for the program, Apple will scrutinized your company and your product for certification.


Made for iPhone labels. The latest one is the one that works with Apple Find My

In the case of Find My, once the product is accepted, the manufacturer have the right to affix the label ‘Works with Apple Find My’ on the product and also the product can be registered in the Find My app. There is royalty cost being involve in the program, but since the market for iPhone is also significant (more than a billion active iPhones and growing), the manufacturer still sign up for the program.

Find My Network

Now you can add a 3rd party items to be tracked using Find My app. To add such item, first open up the ‘Find My’ app. Click on the items tab and it will be able to automatically detect your item.

There’s also a community find where the device can connect to bluetooth to someone else iPhone updates you the location of the devices. How this works is that the item emits a bluetooth signal. The bluetooth signal is picked up by an iPhone and that internet connected iPhone is updated to Apple server which in turn updates you. The communications between that bluetooth device to your iPhone is encrypted end-to-end that nobody in between will know the location of the item being tracked, not Apple and not the one who picked up the bluetooth signal.


VanMoof bike frame expose the circuity that enables multitude of functionality, Find My is among them.

Privacy Concerns

One of the concerns about having Find My is the stalker problem. Potentially someone can put one of the tags in an unsuspecting persons bag and have them being tracked without their knowledge.

First line of defense is accuracy. It is accurate, but not that accurate. The accuracy range around 20 meters for GPS devices like an iPhone, but for bluetooth, the accuracy is worst if using other methods like WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular positioning.

The second line of defense that starting on iOS 14.5, Find My app will notify you if there is a tracked device that is hidden on you. It is part of the Item Safety feature that Apple use as safety checks to ensure that you are not being tracked by unknown devices like a bluetooth tag. The said the device will also occasionally chirps in case the one who is being tracked is not an iPhone / Apple ID user.

Plug

Help grow this site and my family by visiting my affiliate links below:-

Accessories:-

  • USB-C charger - 100W - Amazon
  • Apple USB-C 20W charger - Amazon
  • Anker USB-C to Lighting Cable - Amazon
  • Apple Pencil
    • Version 2 for iPad Pro 2018 / 2020 or iPad Air 4 - Amazon
    • Version 1 for iPad - Amazon
  • Magic Keyboard
    • For 11" iPad Pro and iPad Air 4 - Amazon
    • For 12.9" iPad Pro - Amazon
  • Smart Folio
    • For 11" iPad Pro 2018 / 2020 or iPad Air 4 - Amazon
    • For 12.9" iPad Pro - Amazon
  • Smart Cover - Amazon
  • AirPods

Share this article:

Related:

Is Apple in the Software Business?

Some would argue that Apple is purely a hardware company. Some would argue that it is also in the software business.

Apple M1 vs Intel 11th Gen Core i9

Intel has release its bad boy 11th Generation Core i9 chip. Can Intel finally beat the lowest performing Apple Silicon?

WWDC 2024: What to Expect

Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference has been announced. Here is what we think Apple will introduce on a hot June morning.
Tags: apple, explained,