Android will get ultra-wideband support for smarter item trackers and car keys
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
- Google is in the early stages of adding native ultra-broadband support to Android.
- It could enable smarter item trackers, car keys, and other direction-sensitive functions.
- It’s not sure if this will be ready for Android 12.
Android doesn’t have robust ultra-broadband (UWB) support like iPhones – you need a Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra right now, and Xiaomi’s plans for that are still in the early stages. However, Google could make the technology more accessible than XDA discovered that the company is laying the foundation for an ultra-broadband programming interface in Android.
Details on how the ultra-broadband API works are still scarce, but Google points out that it is used for direction and distance cues like you see in existing UWB implementations like Samsung’s SmartThings Find.
Continue reading: The best Samsung SmartThings devices
You might wait a while for ultra broadband to become fairly commonplace. XDA There is no guarantee that the framework for Android 12 is ready or that the Pixel 6 will support UWB, even if it is part of the upcoming operating system. It’s also up to third-party vendors to adopt the technology, and support may be inconsistent.
However, this could be an important development. Ultra-broadband on Android could enable smarter item trackers that tell you exactly where to look to find your lost wallet. This could also be crucial for the next generation of digital car keys. You may just have to point your phone at the door to enter.
Ultra broadband can also be used to refine existing Android features. You could see simpler, direction-based file sharing like the one Apple offers with AirDrop on newer iPhone models. This can also help with positioning, especially indoors. While UWB is young enough that its potential is unclear, there would be some immediate benefits if Android vendors adopt it relatively quickly.
