Back in September 2019, Amazon unveiled Sidewalk, a bold initiative by the corporation to increase the dependability of smart home technology. After years of preparation, Sidewalk is now ready, and consumers in the US can begin using it as of June 8. You’ve come to the right site if you’ve been wondering what Amazon Sidewalk is all about, how it operates, and if you should choose to use it or not. To learn more about Amazon Sidewalk’s pros and cons, continue reading.
Amazon Sidewalk Explained (2021)
Before we get started, it’s important to note that Amazon Sidewalk is currently only accessible to users in the United States. Regarding Sidewalk’s availability in additional areas, Amazon is silent. Don’t look for Sidewalk in the Alexa app if you are reading this from India because it isn’t yet live. Here is everything you need to know about Amazon Sidewalk now that that has been cleared up.
What is Amazon Sidewalk?
In essence, Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network designed to keep your smart devices online even if your connection is down or the signal is weak. This technology allows IoT devices (not just yours, but also your neighbours’) to operate more accurately and efficiently over a longer distance by extending the internet connection from your home to the sidewalk. Currently, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi do not provide such a range.
Sidewalk accomplishes this by distributing a small portion of your internet to nearby Amazon devices while simultaneously building a crowdsourced mesh network. Sidewalk operates in the 900 MHz LoRa (Long Range) spectrum and is marketed as a free solution to extend the range of inexpensive, low-bandwidth devices to stay online even when they are not connected to the home network.
How Does Amazon Sidewalk Work?
Amazon Sidewalk is made up of five main parts. Packets, Sidewalk Endpoints, Sidewalk Network Servers, and Sidewalk Application Servers. Below are brief descriptions of these elements:
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Sidewalk Bridges
It is used to establish connections with the Endpoint and Sidewalk’s Network servers, also referred to as Sidewalk Gateways. These Amazon Echo devices employ Bluetooth Low Energy and Frequency-Shift Keying (FSK) on the 900 MHz LoRa frequency (BLE).
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Sidewalk Endpoint
Endpoints, often referred to as Sidewalk-enabled devices, connect to the bridges and make use of the Sidewalk network. Low-power smart gadgets like door locks, smart lights, and other similar items are examples of endpoints. It’s important to note that Sidewalk Gateways can function as an endpoint as well.
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Sidewalk Network Server
Incoming packets are authenticated by Sidewalk Network Server, which also directs them to their intended location. These Sidewalk network servers are run by Amazon.
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Application Servers and Packets
Endpoints on Sidewalk are hosted by Application Servers. According to Amazon’s official FAQ page, the application servers are managed by the manufacturer of the sidewalk endpoints, which may be either Amazon or a trusted third party. Last but not least, packets are communications sent across endpoints.
You must now be wondering how everything fits together. In any case, Sidewalk bridges (such as Echo devices or Ring cameras) offer a link to other Sidewalk-enabled devices in addition to your own. That means that, owing to Amazon’s wireless network, your security camera, item tracker, or smart light would continue to function when Wi-Fi was not available.
As I already said, this wireless technology allows other Sidewalk-enabled devices to share a little piece of your internet connection. The company claims that a Sidewalk Bridge’s maximum capacity is limited to 80Kbps. Additionally, the maximum amount of monthly data permitted for Sidewalk devices is just 500MB. Amazon claims that this is roughly similar to streaming 10 minutes of HD movie, to put it into context. That entails providing.
Amazon Sidewalk: Benefits
The convenience is the most obvious advantage and Amazon’s selling point for Sidewalk. Devices with Sidewalk support are simple to use and manage even when your primary internet connection is not functioning. If you use a smart door lock and your home Wi-Fi isn’t working, for example, it ought to be useful.
Amazon notes on its help page that some Ring cameras can still get motion alerts even if your internet connection is down because of Sidewalk. Additionally, by including Tile trackers, it will be simpler to locate lost wallets, keychains, or pets even when they are out of Wi-Fi range. Within about 30 feet, Echo devices and Tile trackers can link to one another.
The fact that Amazon is working with Careband, a business that creates wearable solutions for persons with dementia, is another advantage worth mentioning. With the help of this collaboration, Sidewalk’s long-range connectivity will allow CareBand’s wearables offer capabilities like indoor and outdoor activity tracking, a help button, and automatic analysis of activity patterns without the need for a smartphone.
Amazon Sidewalk: Supported Devices
At initially, Amazon Sidewalk will only accept first-party gadgets like Ring cameras and Echo smart speakers. On the other hand, Tile, a well-known item tracker, will join Sidewalk as of June 14. The following gadgets can support Amazon Sidewalk in total:
Sidewalk Bridges
- 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
- Ring Floodlight Cam (2019)
- Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019)
- Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019)
Sidewalk Third-Party Devices
- Tile item trackers (probably the best alternative to Apple AirTag)
Amazon Sidewalk: Security Measures
Amazon has released a whitepaper outlining Sidewalk’s privacy and security features. The business makes it clear in this paper that owners of Sidewalk Gateways and Bridges won’t be informed about other people’s devices that are Sidewalk-enabled. The business also claims to have strengthened the Sidewalk network’s encryption with three more layers.
The Endpoint Sidewalk-ID, Endpoint Payload Size, Transmission Time, Gateway ID, and Application Server are among the metadata that the Sidewalk network reportedly employs. The major components’ particular data permissions are listed below:
The application layer, network layer, and flex layer are the three layers of encryption used by Amazon. During the registration procedure, Amazon gives each device a unique set of credentials to ensure that only trusted devices can access Sidewalk. Additionally, Amazon claims that it removes Sidewalk-related routing data every 24 hours. The Amazon whitepaper is available here if you’d want to learn more about how these encryption layers are used.
Amazon Sidewalk: Privacy Concerns/ Security Risks
There are significant privacy problems with Sidewalk because it entails sharing your internet with your neighbour, although only a small fraction. If you’re concerned that adjacent gadgets or your neighbours will have unrestricted access to your internet, that’s obviously not the case. Additionally, your neighbours won’t be able to connect to your Wi-Fi network, hack your gadgets, and view your personal data.
Initially only available on first-party devices, Sidewalk will eventually be made available on third-party devices, starting with Tile. How much data will be provided to third parties by Sidewalk is yet unclear from Amazon. The corporation promises to exercise caution when deciding which devices to share data with.
The fact that the Sidewalk protocol is a proprietary standard raises another potential issue, since even well-established wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have flaws. Users must trust Amazon, a firm with a dubious history of preserving user privacy, in order to fully commit to Sidewalk.
The main issue with Sidewalk is that it is an opt-out service rather than an opt-in service. In other words, starting on June 8th, if you have a suitable device and reside in the US, Amazon will automatically enable the service for you. To opt out of Amazon Sidewalk, you must manually modify the settings in the Ring or Alexa apps. Check the instructions to turn off Sidewalk in the next section if you have no interest.
How to Opt Out of Amazon Sidewalk
If you are concerned about the aforementioned privacy issues, you can disable Amazon Sidewalk from the Ring or Alexa app. Check out the part that applies to your app of choice below:
Disable Amazon Sidewalk from Alexa app
1. Launch the Alexa app, select Settings from the bottom navigation menu by tapping on More.
2. Tap Account settings on the Settings screen and select Amazon Sidewalk. The option to turn off Sidewalk for your account is now available.
The disabled Sidewalk toggle now includes has a Community Finding option, as seen in the screenshot. It increases the efficiency of devices like Tile trackers and other compatible location-tracking devices, increases their range, and makes them simpler to locate if lost. According to Amazon, enabling this function will allow you to share the general location of your device and other Sidewalk bridges you own.
Additionally, it’s conceivable that you don’t have access to the Amazon Sidewalk option in the Alexa app settings. You are not alone, therefore you shouldn’t worry. Several people have complained on Twitter and Reddit that they are unable to access the setting to stop the feature. Amazon appears to be aware of the problem (through Twitter/@caroll carrol), and a remedy ought to be available very shortly.
Disable Amazon Sidewalk from Ring app
1. Launch the Ring application, then select Control Center from the hamburger menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
2. There is an option for Amazon Sidewalk in the Control Center. You can turn off the feature by tapping this sliding button. The Ring app will verify that you have chosen to uninstall Amazon Sidewalk. In the future, if you change your mind, you can go back to this page and activate the service.
Amazon Sidewalk: Convenience at the Cost of Privacy?
This concludes our discussion about Amazon Sidewalk in 2021. Although the concept is intriguing, Sidewalk’s success hinges on user uptake, thus forcing users to utilise the feature doesn’t seem like a wise first step. If Sidewalk is widely adopted, the tech giant will have a significant role in the IoT market. Your thoughts on Amazon Sidewalk? Is Amazon attempting to create Bluetooth 2.0 or a nightmare for your privacy? Please share your opinions with us in the space provided below.
