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Rumor | Google is working on cloning Apple's Find My service

Google might be about to enhance Find My Device. (Source: XDA)
Google might be about to enhance Find My Device. (Source: XDA)
Google already provides a Find My Device service for Android. Now, a new leak suggests that it is working on making it more like Apple's version. The Mountain View giant is reportedly working on a new OS option that allows devices to join a network that locates missing possessions such as phones.
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Google's Find My Device mainly uses location services to try and help Android users to recover missing phones or tablets. However, it could be said to pale in comparison with Apple Find My, which can leverage wireless connections between all devices from that OEM in the vicinity to pinpoint products such as its new AirTags.

This may be why Google has reportedly included code for its own version of the same idea in the latest version of the Play Services app. This version (21.24.13) has been found to refer to a new service called Find Device Network, which apparently "allows your phone to locate your and other people’s devices”.

This may imply a greater role for things such as smart tags in the Google Mobile Services ecosystem. They are rumored to be in development by the Android OEM OPPO (and, by association, possibly OnePlus as well now), following in Samsung's footsteps with its Galaxy SmartTags.

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Source(s)

XDA

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Deirdre O'Donnell, 2021-06-19 (Update: 2021-06-20)