USA: According to technology journalist Mishaal Rahman, Google is working on a Bluetooth tracker similar to Apple's AirTags. The tech giant has added a "locator tag" product type to its Fast Pair developer console, which refers to Bluetooth trackers that support Fast Pair technology.
Furthermore, developer Kuba Wojciechowski revealed that the product is codenamed "Grogu" and is being developed by the Nest team.
Tracking devices are becoming increasingly popular, especially since Apple introduced the AirTag to help users locate misplaced items. Given the success of the AirTag, it is not surprising that Google has decided to enter the market and compete with existing players such as Samsung. According to reports, Google's tracking tag is still in its initial stages. It may be announced at the upcoming I/O developer conference.
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Wojciechowski claims that Google codenamed his smart tracker "Grogu" (also known as "groguaudio" or "GR10"). According to the developer, the Nest team is currently working on the tracker.
However, it will not be released as part of the Nest product line. The smart tracker will support both Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies, as well as Google's fast pairing feature.
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According to Wojciechowski, the tracking tag will include a small internal speaker. It will help to play mini speaker alerts. According to the developer, the tag will also be available in different colors.
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connections use significantly less power than standard Bluetooth connections. Google's tracking tag must use BLE to operate at low power while maintaining a communication range comparable to a traditional Bluetooth connection.
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Meanwhile, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology should ensure accurate range on the tag, allowing accurate distance estimates and accurate direction display to the tag.
Google is also developing an app similar to Apple's "Find My Network". This will be known as the "Finder Network" and will help users locate their devices when they are disconnected from the Internet. Location reports will be encrypted and only visible to device owners.