Finding a lost Android smartphone even when it is turned off may soon become a reality. Google could soon introduce its Google Locate My Device app, the ability to locate a terminal thanks to a mesh network system created by other Android devices. A feature reminiscent of the one introduced by Apple a few years ago that allows all its devices to be located even when they are deliberately turned off.
Mesh network for tracking devices robot Even when it is turned off
The fact that Google operates on a mesh network similar to Apple’s to locate Android smartphones isn’t new. Almost two years ago, several lines of code were found in the installation files of Google services, indicating that the company was working on this topic.
And recently, last December, Google system release notes It mentioned that the Find My Device app now supports ” A new privacy-focused framework This one gives Find My Device compatibility With last known status reports encrypted for Android devices Lots of clues that could be interpreted as the beginnings of a mesh network deployment of Android devices.
Now things seem to be coming together more and more. According to Indian media 91 mobile phonesreported by Android Police, an Android 14 code leaker discovered a rather interesting line of code: “ Hardware.google.bluetooth.power_off_finder This indicates that devices running the operating system will be able to keep the Bluetooth chip active even when it is turned off. Thanks to this feature that will be called Pixel Power Out Finder On Google devices, Mountain View can create a giant mesh network, as Apple did with its devices, made up of millions of Android terminals.
However, one question remains unanswered. Will Google’s mesh network be able to work and be exploited on the billions of devices already in circulation? Or will it be limited to modern devices with chipsets specifically compatible with this feature? It will probably take a little more patience to get to the bottom of it. However, Google could provide the answer very soon, as it did during the annual Google I/O conference taking place on May 10 in Mountain View.
