Apple, Amazon, even Comcast + Tile have all created on-by-default, short-range wireless networks using more than a billion devices we've already brought into our homes

It's a neat trick for making an end-run around telcos. And few people even realize ithttps://t.co/XntAc4b7Ji

— Christopher Mims (@mims) May 7, 2021

In an average U.S. city, Amazon only needs one Echo or Ring device every mile or so, to have a city-blanketing LoRa wireless network.

It's as if overnight, Amazon became Verizon-for-smart-connected-gadgets.

Here's one that tracks elderly relatives, called CareBand: pic.twitter.com/CvigyJlJBF

— Christopher Mims (@mims) May 7, 2021

Sneaking a giant wireless network into our lives sounds devious, but I don't think most Americans will care.

It enables things they'll want. Like finding lost devices, even lost loved ones.

Still! It's amazing this happened without us even noticinghttps://t.co/XntAc4b7Ji

— Christopher Mims (@mims) May 7, 2021

Tile will now use the Amazon Sidewalk network to help locate your stuff. This is a big, important move. But now we need to know just how extensive the Sidewalk network is and if the Alexa app would feed into it eventually for mobile coveragehttps://t.co/sU6hY5kB2F

— Rich DeMuro (@richontech) May 7, 2021

Amazon and Apple Built Vast Wireless Networks Using Your Devices. Here’s How They Work.

?Quick thread on an intriguing trend in infrastructure / "permissionless innovation" that expanded today -- to all Echo devices made from 2018 on.https://t.co/XntAc4b7Ji

— Christopher Mims (@mims) May 7, 2021

The use case for Amazon’s Sidewalk mesh network seemed thin when I about it in December—but when that peer-to-peer connectivity can help locate Tile tags, it looks much more useful. https://t.co/SH9EISVzqT

— Rob Pegoraro (@robpegoraro) May 7, 2021

Through a new pilot program, @Amazon is combining their Sidewalk neighborhood network with @Care_Band's LoRaWAN-enabled wearable devices to help support people living with dementia. https://t.co/g8kfORD3oC

— Edge Impulse (@EdgeImpulse) May 7, 2021

Every day, the idea of living completely off the grid becomes a tiiiiiiiiiiny bit more tempting, and more improbable https://t.co/CDQtle2tzZ

— Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) May 7, 2021

I tried for a week to find out from Amazon *where* in the US its low-bandwidth wireless network would be available, and didn't get an answer, so I guess the answer is...potentially everywhere? Also: Ring is part of Amazon Sidewalk, not mentioned in release https://t.co/B6djRBewlj

— Lauren Goode (@LaurenGoode) May 7, 2021

I've been excited by this trend ever since my first convo with Tile. It's nice to see other people realizing the power that these ad hoc networks can have. Also, the capex of a traditional telco network won't ever work for IoT. It needs to be cheap and distributed. https://t.co/5WeG3x5Jsl

— Stacey Higginbotham (@gigastacey) May 7, 2021

Interesting launch from @Amazon devices, with the introduction of a Sidewalk pilot program to support people living with dementia. Worth checking out for sure. $AMZN https://t.co/bWSZGkrlXK#IoT #SmartHome

— Daniel Newman (@danielnewmanUV) May 7, 2021

We are extremely excited to share that Amazon and CareBand embark on a new Sidewalk pilot program to support people living with dementia.

We can’t wait to #staysafewithcarebandhttps://t.co/hMwvTXgTpR

— CareBand (@Care_Band) May 7, 2021

I've read up on the privacy features of these networks but still am hugely creeped out by these simple statements of what these companies have builthttps://t.co/dxqgkLLwPi

— James Vincent (@jjvincent) May 7, 2021

Tile’s trackers will work with Amazon’s Sidewalk network starting June 14th https://t.co/vGpm64BTHK pic.twitter.com/SEyIhyD86V

— The Verge (@verge) May 8, 2021

Tile’s trackers will work with Amazon’s Sidewalk network starting June 14th https://t.co/c2M9jJG8XS pic.twitter.com/69NLeesGZ3

— The Verge (@verge) May 7, 2021

The lack of critical analysis around Amazon Sidewalk news today has been….well, anyway, read @vicmsong’s thoughts on the ways in which these networks can be used to make our lives easier but also be used for surveillance and abuse. https://t.co/DwAdbUvZ1b

— Caitlin McGarry (@Caitlin_McGarry) May 7, 2021

It's Apple's Find My vs. Amazon's Sidewalk — and the battle for the new shared network is heating up. @jonfortt breaks it all down for us. https://t.co/FPA45obso9 pic.twitter.com/uATxksDr8r

— CNBC (@CNBC) May 7, 2021

A whole bunch of lost keys out there, apparently. https://t.co/qpwObttPjw

— file under “anti-surveillance” (@hypervisible) May 7, 2021

#Amazon partners with #Tile to take on #Apple #AirTags

Read more: https://t.co/NoxSREZDT6#Reliyant #programming #coding #developer #coders #programmers #computerscience #software #machinelearning #AI #technews #technology #IT

— Reliyant (@reliyant) May 7, 2021

Amazon partners with Tile to take on Apple AirTags https://t.co/jQSP5gMk2n

— CNBC Tech (@CNBCtech) May 7, 2021

Amazon partners with Tile to take on Apple AirTags https://t.co/j4qAPDd1ZA

— CNBC (@CNBC) May 7, 2021

타일, AirTags와 더 나은 경쟁 위해 아마존 사이드워크 통합 추가
- 아마존은 금요일 타일의 블루투스 트래커에 자사 사이드워크 통합을 추가하는 파트너십을 발표
- 사이드워크는 아마존 Echo 및 링 같은 기기의 연결성을 개선하기 위해 디자인된 블루투스 기기 용 네트워크https://t.co/zt2CD3Y1i2

— Wan Ki Choi (@wkchoi) May 8, 2021