> Apple stopped making it easy for apps to get permanent access to a user's location.
> The main points of differentiation of AirTags vis a vis Tile are enabled by platform capabilities that we don't have access to.
Apple makes it easy for their product (AirTags) to have always on location permissions. Apple makes it hard for their competitor (Tile) to have always on location permissions.
Apple is using their ecosystem to advantage their AirTag business instead of competing on the same playing field as Tile.
You are asking to have Apple pick up random BLE messages and send them to various 3rd party vendors with corresponding location information?
Does Tile have a secure way of receiving those messages that does not compromise the security and anonymity (exposing the identity of either the device or the receiver, or the location of either) of the person whose device picked up the message so that this can be implemented in Android core and Apple?
Pre launch of AirTags, users could opt in to always on location permissions for the Tile app. Post launch of AirTags, Apple makes it hard for Tile users to have always on location permissions.
> You are asking to have Apple pick up random BLE messages and send them to various 3rd party vendors with corresponding location information?
I'm not asking for anything. This is just one of many examples of the form: Apple offers API for 3rd party accessory, accessory is successful, Apple launches 1st party accessory, Apple restricts 3rd party accessory API.
Is this behavior illegal? The Department of Justice says it is. The courts will decide.
> Apple stopped making it easy for apps to get permanent access to a user's location.
> The main points of differentiation of AirTags vis a vis Tile are enabled by platform capabilities that we don't have access to.
Apple makes it easy for their product (AirTags) to have always on location permissions. Apple makes it hard for their competitor (Tile) to have always on location permissions.
Apple is using their ecosystem to advantage their AirTag business instead of competing on the same playing field as Tile.