On Tuesday June 8 your Amazon devices like select Amazon speakers and Ring security cameras will automatically enroll you in Amazon Sidewalk.
It will share a "small portion" of your at-home internet connection with your neighbors.
What's the goal? Amazon wants to create one large, low-bandwidth wireless network that extends the range of certain devices that only work when connected to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. So pretty much, the more people who allow this, the larger and stronger the Amazon Sidewalk network will be.
Here's How to Opt-Out:
1- Open your Alexa app
2- Open more, and select settings
3- Select “Account settings”
4- Select “Amazon Sidewalk
5- ”Turn Amazon Sidewalk “On” or “Off"
Many people are split on this.
Some view Sidewalk as exciting news about some potentially cool capabilities for your smart-home devices while some people are viewing it as a big privacy and security gamble that offers little benefit to device owners.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sidewalk to help you decide which side you're on.
What will it do?
If all goes as planned, Sidewalk hopes to allow faster and less complex setup of new devices. It will also expand location tracking and notifications via compatible devices such as Tile trackers and CareBands (and maybe even smartphones).
The intention is also for it to help devices that have wireless-range issues, such as outdoor cameras and bulbs, stay connected to the internet.
How will it work?
It's set up to allow Echo or Ring devices in your home to share a small portion of internet bandwidth so that other Sidewalk-compatible devices that come in range can connect to the internet.
Amazon says it will limit the speed of those devices to 80 kbps and will cap data consumption at 500 MB per month—super slow, and an amount of data equivalent to 10 or so minutes of streamed video.
You will never know who is sharing your signal (or when), and vice versa.
Which devices are automatically opted in?
For now it's the following devices:
Ring Floodlight Cam (2019)
Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019)
Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019)
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 (all models and generations)
Echo Spot
Echo Studio
Echo Input
Echo Flex
Amazon will continue to add partner devices over time, but for now notable devices that will be able to make use of the Sidewalk network include Tile trackers, CareBands, and Level smart locks.
