Connectivity Technology Blog

Apple AirTags have steadily gained popularity in the smart tag market. A recent report highlighted that 69% of smart tag buyers in late 2024 chose an Apple AirTag. This marks a significant rise from 45% in early 2022. In contrast, Tile, the category pioneer now owned by Life360, has seen its market share fall to 11% from 17% during the same period. Samsung's Galaxy SmartTags now hold second place. Interestingly, the technology behind AirTags resembles concepts like Opportunity Driven Multiple Access (ODMA) or Multihop Cellular Networks (MCNs), which I have previously explored . A similar approach has also been discussed regarding Bluetooth-based Ad-Hoc networks . How Do They Work? AirTags primarily use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to communicate with nearby Apple devices that are part of the Find My network. This vast network consists of millions of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs, which can detect AirTags and securely relay their location back to the owner. Addit...

Wi-Fi has consistently been a popular topic on this blog so it prompted me to write about Wi-Fi support in Apple iPhone and other devices. The following 802.11 technologies are supported by different Apple devices. Not all devices support all technologies and the same device may support different technologies in different regions. The following is 802.11 compatibility and frequency band:  802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E),  802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5),  802.11n (Wi-Fi 4),  802.11a,  802.11b/g  2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Apple platforms supporting Wi-Fi 6E can join Wi-Fi 6E networks that are discoverable on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz channels, and on 6 GHz Preferred Scanning Channels, where 6 GHz is allowed by regulatory domain. Wi‑Fi 6E isn’t available in mainland China. In addition, various roaming optimisation support technologies are implemented to improve roaming performance and device battery life with features such as: Radio Measurement (802.11k): To deliver the list of neighbo...

We have been writing about Wi-Fi for a long time, weather it's to do with indoor connectivity , competition with 5G or just a name change to something simpler. When we last wrote about WiFi 6, a.k.a. 802.11ax, we were expecting a quick adoption of the technology in the industry. We are still not there yet.  You know what's strange? None of the new @madebygoogle gadgets from yesterday support Wi-Fi 6. Not the Pixel 5, not the Pixel 4a 5G, not the Nest Audio, and not the new Chromecast. pic.twitter.com/QtJ8iB9FeO — Ry Crist (@rycrist) October 1, 2020 Take for instance the new iPhone 12 supports Wi-Fi 6 in all their models as one would expect but none of the new Google Pixel phones (4a, 4a 5G and 5) support it. In fact none of the new Google devices support it. Which is rather bizarre. While we are still looking forward to Wi-Fi 6 becoming widespread, IEEE has already started working on the successor of 802.11ax, 802.11be - Standard for Information technology--Telecommunicati...