Google starts alerting people about Find My Device network in Canada, USA

Last month, Google launched the Find My Device network in Canada and the United States. Now, the company is informing people in those countries about the arrival of the new feature with an email (via 9To5Google).

Google has sent an email to people in Canada and the United States who have Android devices which informs them about the arrival of the Find My Device network.

In this email, the company explains how “you’ll be able to locate your devices even if they’re offline” using the new feature. That’s not all though. It tells people that their “Android devices will soon join the Find My Device network” and that if they don’t want Google to add their devices to the Find My Device network (which it will do automatically three days after sending this email), they can opt for that by visiting this link. They will also have the option to turn off the feature at a later date from their device’s settings menu.

To explain to people how it works, Google makes two points:

1. “Devices in the network use Bluetooth to scan for nearby items. If other devices detect your items, they’ll securely send the locations where the items were detected to Find My Device. Your Android devices will do the same to help others find their offline items when detected nearby.”
2. “Your devices’ locations will be encrypted using the PIN, pattern, or password for your Android devices. They can only be seen by you and those you share your devices with in Find My Device. They will not be visible to Google or used for other purposes.”

Location trackers based on the Find My Device network arrive next month. Until then, people can use this feature to track their Android smartphones and tablets.