We are still waiting for the debut of AirTags, Apple's long-rumored key tracker that is expected to find and integrate pre-installed apps on the iPhone However, Apple is not waiting to add tracking capabilities outside of its own devices

The company has opened the door for its Find My app and added support for third-part accessories Chipolo, a key finder manufacturer, has a special version of the Chipolo One tracker that can be used with the Find My app on Apple devices

Like the best key finders, the Chipolo One connects to the phone via Bluetooth and can track what Chipolo's round fob is attached to (Usually keys, but it can be attached to any valuables you want to monitor) Normally, the tracker's location can be monitored from Chipolo's app, but the Chipolo One Spot can work directly with the Find My app

The Find My app can display the known location of tracked items It can also sound an alarm to help pinpoint the exact location If the Chipolo One Spot is lost, it can be marked as lost, and the Find My network will notify you if the tracker is found again

All of this is thanks to Find My's third-party accessory support, officially available on devices running iOS 143, iPad OS 143 or later, and macOS Big Sur 111 or later With this update, devices will now work with items in the "Works with Apple Find My" classification This means that you will no longer have to wait for Apple to deploy its own technology to be able to track items that you may have lost

Apple is almost certain to announce its own product soon; for over a year now, we've heard that AirTags are about to ship; like the Chipolo One and other key finders, Apple's tracker will be attached to valuables and monitor their location from the "Find My" app to monitor their whereabouts

But there is one crucial difference: Apple's AirTags are said to work with the U1 Ultra Wideband chip in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 series Ultra Wideband has a greater communication range than Bluetooth LE, which is used by most keyfinders, and can also provide more detailed location information

Perhaps that is why Apple is opening up Find My to what appears to be a potential competitor to AirTags The current Key Finder offers different features than what Apple's rumored device would offer And Chipolo One can be used on iPhones that do not have the U1 chip

Pricing for the Chipolo One Spot has not yet been set, but the standard version of the tracker costs $25 Chipolo will begin taking pre-orders in May, and the Chipolo One Spot will ship in June

Chipolo is not the only third-party company using the Find My app For example, the VanMoof S3 and X3 e-bikes are now linked to the network; VanMoof allows riders to use the Find My app to find and track their bikes using similar technology