The launch of the highly anticipated “Find My Device” network by Google seems to be just around the corner. In an email received by 9to5Google, the company informs users that it will activate the feature in three days. This feature uses data from millions of other Android devices to locate lost phones and accessories, similar to the tracking technology used by Apple and Tile.
The email says that users can use the network to “find any Fast Pair compatible accessory when disconnected from their device” or offline, including headphones, earphones, and trackers, as reported by 9to5Google. It adds that users will receive a notification on their device when the feature is activated and that they can opt out of the network through “Find My Device” on the web.
Formally announced last year, the launch of the “Find My Device” network was delayed while Google and Apple worked together on an industry standard that would help ensure that this location technology was not used to maliciously track the movements of others, something that was a problem after the launch of Apple’s AirTag in 2021.
Google delayed the launch of the “Find My Device” network for iPhone owners’ benefit so that Apple could apply this protection in iOS, something that seems to have finally happened in iOS 17.5.
The strangest thing is that Google doesn’t seem to have shared this release date on any other site, as it has only been received by 9to5Google. It is possible that the email was sent by mistake and that the included date is incorrect, but considering the context of the settings deployment and iOS developments, it is most likely that they won’t keep us waiting for long.
