Tile has become the world's first third-party device to join Amazon's Sidewalk network. This will allow you to easily find items tagged using a Tile tracker even if you are not within the tracker's Bluetooth range.
Tile is likely hoping to level the playing field against Apple's AirTags with this, which relies on the company's massive Find My network to locate tagged items.
Amazon Sidewalk Network Goes Live in the US in June
Tile will be launching support for Amazon's Sidewalk network for its trackers starting June 14. In its announcement on About Amazon, Amazon says it is scheduled to turn on Sidewalk support for compatible Echo devices in the US starting June 8. The network will be available for free to all in the US.
Tile is also improving its integration with Alexa to make finding tagged items easier in your home or office. If you have multiple Echo devices in your home, Alexa will be able to tell you which Echo device is closest to your Tiled item.
Level Smart Locks Also Gaining Amazon Sidewalk Support
Level smart locks are also gaining support for Amazon Sidewalk. This will allow you to use the Ring or the Level app to control your smart lock even if you are not within the lock's Bluetooth range. This will be made possible by the Level lock connecting to your Ring Video Doorbell Pro.
What Is Amazon's Sidewalk Network?
Announced last year, Amazon describes Sidewalk as a "neighborhood network" that will allow your devices to work even "beyond the front door."
Sidewalk uses Bluetooth Low Energy, 900MHz spectrum, and "other frequencies" to make setting up new devices easier, extend the range of other compatible smart home devices, and even help them connect to the internet if they are not in the Wi-Fi range.
As Amazon highlights, thanks to Sidewalk, you'll be able to receive motion alerts from your security cameras even if your Wi-Fi is not working. It can also allow your smart lights to connect to the internet if they are not in the Wi-Fi range. All this is made possible by Sidewalk Bridges-compatible devices like the Ring Floodlight Cams and Ring Spotlight Cams, which allow other Sidewalk-compatible devices to connect to the internet.
For this, you must reserve a part of your internet bandwidth, which is pooled to create a shared network that benefits all Sidewalk-compatible devices, irrespective of whether you own it or not.
Many of Amazon's Echo devices are compatible with Amazon Sidewalk, including the new Echo and Echo Show 10, which can act as a Sidewalk Bridge.
