Apple’s Find My Goes Beyond Apple Devices

Grace Edwards 06 Apr 2021

If you had that doubtful luck to lose your iPhone and then find it due to Apple’s service Find My, you understand how great an idea it is. Its only weakness was that it always required a lost or stolen Apple device to contact other iPhones or Macs to share its location. Now Apple looks for ways to improve this by getting MFI-certified devices involved.

The new app by Apple is named Find My Certification Asst, and it’s available since April 4. It is meant for developers and manufacturers of MFI-certified accessories, like headsets and other smart devices. The app will enable them to test various aspects of compatibility, including Bluetooth, NFC, sounds, firmware connectivity, and so on. The launch of this app is partly a result of pressure from American and European regulators that want it open for third-party techs.

Also it has something to do with the much rumored about AirTags, wireless tags that help find items (and help regulators press Apple down for another monopoly). Those eager to interconnect things have already embraced Tile, the major manufacturer of similar tags. The introduction of AirTags will foster development and sales of similar devices that (among other things) can be a part of Apple’s Find My.