The tech giant Apple has finally opened its Find My network to third-party accessory makers like Belkin, Chipolo, and VanMoof, as promised last year.
First introduced in 2009 on iPhone 3GS, Find My has been used to track down iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. Now, third-party accessories (or non-Apple products) can be found using Find My, as long as they follow Apple’s Made for iPhone (MFi) accessory rules.
Apple announced that the first round of Find My-compatible items would be available next week. VanMoof’s S3 and X3 e-bikes, Belkin’s Soundform Freedom True Wireless Earbuds, and the Chipolo One Spot item finder are among the non-Apple products. As part of Apple’s MFi program, third-party accessory makers collaborate closely with the company.
To have their goods approved, they must adhere to “all the privacy protections of the Find My network that Apple customers rely on.” Find My products that have been approved can be added to the Items tab of the Find My app and linked to your Apple ID. Besides, Apple revealed that it will provide a chipset specification for third-party device companies to integrate with Apple’s newly released iPhones’ Ultra-Wideband systems for precise monitoring.
The launch of Apple’s Find My service comes as the Cupertino, California-based company is rumored to be working on AirTags, a tag-based tracking system that will help you find missing items. If Apple releases AirTags, it will have a major effect on sales of Tile, the popular lost-item tracker hardware maker.
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