Apple’s limits to third-party integration ‘Find My’ under scrutiny

Last month, Apple introduced the new “Find My” network accessory program, created to allow third-party products to work with Apple’s own indFind My‌ app. While Apple’s AirTags have yet to be formally announced, this show was seen as a way for Apple to level the playing field with competitive Bluetooth location trackers, like Tile, and avoid accusations that Apple is monopolizing the market.

In a new report today by The Washington PostThere are more aspects of this program that have not been detailed above, including much stricter rules for third-party companies using the indFind My‌ app. According to an anonymous developer who shared a secret 50-page PDF from Apple about aboutFind My‌, customers who use the Apple app to locate a device will not be able to use third-party services simultaneously.

Although details are still sparse, this suggests that while you will be able to link a Tile tracker to indFind My‌ and use the Apple app to locate a lost wallet, for example, you won’t be able to use the Tile app itself to do the same. Also, due to Apple’s restrictions on “always allowing” location access, each external company will have to ask each Apple user for permission to obtain their location, which is a notable obstacle to item location apps.

Another problem pointed out by the developers is their limited access to the iPhone’s Bluetooth antenna and other Apple hardware. While the indFind My‌ app can use these pieces of hardware when needed, third-party software can only use the Bluetooth antenna within certain thresholds, and if the developers go further, Apple cuts off their access and prevents the software from working. In particular, according to these developers, Apple does not inform them what the specific threshold is.

Following the announcement of Apple’s indFind My‌ app and amid rumors of Apple’s own Bluetooth tracking hardware, Tile began taking action against Apple. The company accused Apple of abuse of power and illegally favoring its own products in a letter sent to the European Union in May. Tile said Apple was making it difficult for users to operate Tile’s Bluetooth trackers on iOS devices, “by selectively disabling features that allow for a seamless user experience.”

Despite the claims made by developers in The Washington Post Today, Apple spokesman Alex Kirschner said the company finds its indFind My‌ network accessory program useful to smaller companies that lack the resources to build a location search service: “If you were a gamer Smaller interested in entering the search space and doesn’t have “You didn’t build a search network, this allows you to do that.” Apple has denied that its policies are anti-competitive.