Welcome to our article in which we will discuss what is Amazon Sidewalk, its coverage map, and Amazon Sidewalk-supported devices.
Amazon has announced that its Sidewalk network is now open to developers, giving them the opportunity to build connected gadgets using its long-range, low-bandwidth network. This network can provide IoT devices with free low-speed data, making it a cost-effective alternative to expensive LTE or 5G connectivity. Sidewalk is not designed to replace cellular data for high-bandwidth devices, but rather to be used on gadgets that don’t need that much data.
With Sidewalk, Amazon aims to enable the next wave of connected devices. The network mainly exists to help Ring cameras send motion notifications even when they’re offline and allow Level smart locks to connect to the internet without the need for battery-sapping Wi-Fi radios.
Amazon has also developed a few early partnerships, including with CareBand, which developed a wearable health tracker. Now, Amazon wants others to build devices that use the free network.
What is Amazon Sidewalk?
So what is Amazon Sidewalk? The Sidewalk is a long-range shared community network that works over three existing wireless radio technologies: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for short distances, LoRa for long range, and frequency shift keying using 900MHz.
These frequencies can bridge to the internet using any nearby Sidewalk gateway, which currently includes Echo Show 10, Echo, Echo Dot smart speakers, and wired Ring spotlight and floodlight cameras, as well as a small number of commercial-grade bridges.
Amazon Sidewalk coverage map
Now that you know what is Amazon Sidewalk, let us go through its coverage map which you may access using the link here.
The company’s first Sidewalk coverage map claims that over 90 percent of the US population can access the now public network. Using a Sidewalk developer test kit supplied by Amazon, a test was conducted and it was confirmed that the connectivity was surprisingly strong even in remote areas like national forests.
To get started, all you need to do is request a test kit, gauge if the connectivity in the area you want to deploy your product is sufficient, and you can start building. Nordic, Silicon Labs, and other silicon companies have SDKs and HDKs available now, and AWS IoT Core for Sidewalk provides a one-stop shop for connecting devices.
How to disable Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that enhances device performance, simplifies device setup, and helps find lost items. It is optional and can be turned on or off at any time. The service is free and has a capped data usage of 500 MB per month, per account. To learn more about Amazon Sidewalk, users can visit the Welcome to Amazon Sidewalk page using the link here.
To use Amazon Sidewalk you need the Alexa app which you can get using the link below.
To opt-in or out of Amazon Sidewalk, users can follow these steps:
- Open the Alexa app
- Open “More” and select “Settings”
- Select “Account Settings”
- Select “Amazon Sidewalk”
- Turn Amazon Sidewalk on or off for your account
It is important to note that when Amazon Sidewalk is turned on or off, the setting will be applied to all devices linked to the user’s account. The website version of the Alexa app does not display this setting.
If a user’s Ring and Amazon accounts are linked, their Sidewalk preferences on either app will apply to all eligible Echo and Ring devices. Are you uncertain if you want to buy a new Ring camera to your house? Check out Ring camera features.
To check if the Ring account is linked to the Amazon account, users can open the Ring app, select “Menu,” then “Account,” and then “Linked Accounts”.
What are Amazon Sidewalk devices?
Since you now know what is Amazon Sidewalk, we know that you want to try out the newest feature Amazon has to offer. But we have some bad news for you.
The Sidewalk setting will only appear in the Alexa app if you have a compatible Echo device linked to your Amazon account. Compatible Echo devices include:
- Echo (3rd Gen and newer)
- Echo Dot (3rd Gen and newer)
- Echo Dot for Kids (3rd Gen and newer)
- Echo Dot with clock (3rd Gen and newer)
- Echo Plus (all generations)
- Echo Show (2nd Gen)
- Echo Show 5 (1st Gen and 2nd Gen)
- Echo Show 8 (1st Gen and 2nd Gen)
- Echo Show 10
- Echo Spot
- Echo Studio
- Echo Input
- Echo Flex
So if you don’t have an Echo device, you sadly cannot utilize Amazon Sidewalk yet.
Conclusion
Amazon Sidewalk is a promising addition to the growing list of smart home technologies that aim to enhance the performance of connected devices. The low-power, long-range network has the potential to simplify device setup, provide reliable connectivity, and enable new use cases for IoT devices. The fact that it is optional and comes at no additional cost to users makes it an attractive option for those who are looking to connect their devices without breaking the bank.
However, it’s important to note that the use of Sidewalk raises privacy and security concerns, as it operates by sharing a small amount of bandwidth from the internet connection of participating devices. While Amazon claims that Sidewalk won’t snoop on the data from users’ devices, it’s still essential to remain cautious when it comes to sharing personal data. But don’t worry. All these are small details compared to all the data TikTok collects about you.
Here we come to the end of our article where we answer your questions such as what is Amazon Sidewalk and what it does. Stay tuned to stay up to date with the latest developments in technology!
