Whether you have a $1,000+ Android flagship or a device that just cost you a few hundred dollars to get, no one wants to lose their smartphone. That's why these phones have had services to help you locate them, but usually only when they're connected to the internet and switched on.
Google's Find My Device network, which was announced quite some time ago, would allow you to find phones, headphones, and trackers that have gone missing, and potentially even when they're out of juice on compatible devices. Well, we know that this network is finally going to go live, and that's fantastic news.
A Google Email Lets Us Know That We Can Expect The Find My Device Network Around April 8th
We've been waiting for ages for Google's Find My Device network — an infrastructure that will allow everyone's Android devices to play a part in finding lost devices — to launch. It was unsure when this date would come, especially considering Google held it back to wait for Apple's implementation of tracking alerts.
Well, thanks to a report from 9To5Google, it seems like Apple has finally done that with iOS 17.5, and Google is finally ready to deploy its network. In an email sent to an apparently small selection of users this morning (an error?), they let them know that the system will be deployed in “three days,” which would mean April 7th. However, a Sunday launch seems a little odd, so it might be pushed to April 8th.
Just in case you're not too sure about what makes this network so special, this excerpt from the email nails the gist of it:
With the new Find My Device network, you’ll be able to locate your devices even if they’re offline. You can also find any compatible Fast Pair accessories when they’re disconnected from your device. This includes compatible earbuds and headphones, and trackers that you can attach to your wallet, keys, or bike.
Google
When the network is launched, you'll get a notification to inform you. You'll also have the chance to opt out of the network if you want to. You might never have experienced the panic of not being able to find your phone, especially when considering that it is not connected to the internet. However, whether you have or haven't, this new update will be a major salve to the Android lover's soul.
The Delay To Launch Was Because Of Apple's Slow Adoption Of Proper Tracker Monitoring
Apple devices can let you know when there's an AirTag around you that's been following you around, preventing miscreants from planting one on your person and tracking your location. But that only works for Apple's AirTags and not for third-party options like SmartTags.
As a result, Google did the good thing and waited for Apple to include unwanted tracker detection in iOS (which seems to have finally happened with iOS 17.5). This would mean that iPhone users would actually know when trackers on the Find My Device network were following them around instead of being completely oblivious.
