How Amazon Sidewalk Will Create Smart Neighborhoods
Since the introduction of Alexa, Amazon has demonstrated its commitment to helping households maximize smart homes’ benefits. The tech giant recently took a step further by introducing Amazon Sidewalk, a product aimed at creating smart neighborhoods.
Sidewalk employs the user’s Wi-Fi bandwidth to beam radio signals and low energy Bluetooth across multiples devices as a long-range wireless networking protocol. It can connect compatible devices over longer distances to extend Wi-Fi capability. In some cases, the networking protocol passes several wireless devices over half a mile. It works with 900MHz radio signals.
With Amazon Sidewalk, you share bandwidth with households in your neighborhood. This technology ensures that smart lights, garage door openers, motion detectors, and surveillance cameras remain connected even if your Wi-Fi is down.
Sidewalk can be particularly useful for Tile trackers by allowing them to remain connected. Thus, you can still track your pet’s movements and detect your wallet’s location if you forget where you placed it.
The best part about Amazon Sidewalk is that it eliminates the need for any new hardware when looking to leverage its short-range capabilities.
How Does Sidewalk Work
Amazon introduced Sidewalk to the market as a free software update for Ring cameras and Echo speakers. The software enabled users with the Echo Show 10, Floodlight camera, Ring Spotlight, and the spherical Echo to extend the range of wireless connections. By taking advantage of the extended connections, you contribute to the out-of-home network in your neighborhood.
In a recent interview, Luis M. Alvarez, President & CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, outlined the protocol’s features and utility. Sidewalk is accessible via the settings page in the Alexa app. By default, Bluetooth features are on, while extended range connections (Community Finding) required to link with devices in your neighborhood are off by default.
Connected devices can operate as Sidewalk bridges using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Echo Show 10 and spherical Echo are compatible with 900MHz LoRa signals. Although the signals have limited data transmission capacity, they can cover longer distances. Additionally, the signals simplify new device set up and enhance the reconnection of devices after losing a connection.
According to Amazon, the 900MHz spectrum can handle distances of up to half a mile, making them ideal for extending the range in neighborhoods. Sidewalk handles localized connections by linking data to the application server and back via the bridge or gateway, including Sidewalk Network Server.
When it comes to security, Amazon implemented sophisticated measures to safeguard data transmission on the Sidewalk network. The system employs a combination of encryption and data minimization to protect users’ data.
Why Choose Alvarez Technology Group
Alvarez Technology Group is an established IT firm serving companies in Salinas, CA, and beyond. It helps businesses of all sizes to maximize the benefits of information technology systems. It provides a wide selection of enterprise services, including VoIP systems, cloud services, cybersecurity, business continuity planning, Microsoft support, managed IT services, and access control solutions.
The IT company has been operating for more than 20 years. It employs highly-skilled tech professionals capable of handling various tasks to provide comprehensive, client-focused technology services.
