Tile (company)

Last updated

Tile
Tile Logo Since 2023.jpg
Type of business Subsidiary
FoundedDecember 2012;11 years ago (2012-12)
Headquarters San Mateo, California, United States
Created by
  • Mike Farley
  • Nick Evans
Industry Consumer electronics
Products Key finder devices
Parent Life360
URL www.tile.com
Native client(s) on iOS, Android

Tile (stylized as tile) is an American consumer electronics company which produces tracking devices that users can attach to their belongings such as keys and backpacks. A companion mobile app for Android and iOS allows users to track the devices using Bluetooth 4.0 in order to locate lost items or to view their last detected location. [1] The first devices were delivered in 2013. In September 2015, Tile launched a newer line of hardware that includes functionality to assist users in locating smartphones, as well as other feature upgrades. [2] [3] In August 2017, two new versions of the Tile were launched, the Tile Sport and Tile Style. [4] As of 2019, Tile's hardware offerings consist of the Pro, Mate, Slim, and Sticker. [5]

Contents

Since September 2018, former GoPro executive C. J. Prober has been the CEO of Tile after he replaced co-founder Mike Farley. [6] In November 2021, Life360 agreed to acquire Tile in a $205 million acquisition, and is expected to integrate the two services. [7]

Function

Tile Sport Tile Sport - June 2018 (1959).jpg
Tile Sport

Tile manufactures hardware devices, "Tiles", that can be attached to items such as keychains. By attaching the device, a user can later use the Tile app to help locate the item if it is lost. [8] The Tile application uses Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 radio technology to locate Tiles within a 100 foot (30 meters) range, depending on the model. [9] Each Tile comes with a built-in speaker, and the user is able to trigger the device to play a sound to aid in the location of items at close range. The second generation of Tile devices produce sound at a volume of 90 decibels, [10] which is three times as loud as the previous generation of products. [11] The second generation also added a "Find My Phone" feature, which can be used to produce a sound on the user's paired smartphone when the user presses a button on the Tile device. [10]

The Tile app can locate Tiles beyond the 100 foot (30 m) Bluetooth range by using "crowd GPS". If a Tile device is reported as lost and comes within range of any smartphone running the Tile app, the nearby user's app will send the item's owner an anonymous update of the lost item's location. [9] [12] [13] [14] Users can also share their Tiles with others, which allows both participants to locate shared Tiles. [15]

Tile's first generation products have built-in batteries with a battery life of about one year. Owners of these devices were automatically notified when the batteries were nearing depletion and were eligible to receive a discount on a replacement product. [16] Users could then return Tiles with depleted batteries in order for them to be recycled. [17] [18] In October 2018, the Tile Mate and Tile Pro were redesigned to have user-replaceable batteries. [19] These models have lower water-resistance ratings than models that require factory battery replacement. [20]

Funding

Tile's developers used Selfstarter, an open source website platform, to crowdfund the project through pre-orders. [21]

As of July 7, 2013, Tile had raised over US$2.6 million by selling preordered Tiles directly to 50,000 backers through their website. [22]

In 2014, Tile raised additional Series A funding of US$13 million led by GGV Capital and a further US$3 million from Khosla Ventures in 2015. [23] [24]

Dispute with Apple

In May 2020, Tile sought assistance from the European Union in a dispute it had with Apple regarding the provision of its services on Apple devices. It claimed that its app was not activated on Apple devices while the Find My service provided by Apple is activated automatically. Apple denied the allegation. [25] In September 2020, Tile joined the Coalition for App Fairness which aims to reach better conditions for the inclusion of apps into app stores. [26]

Hacking incident

In 2024 a computer hacker acquired the credentials of a suspected former Tile employee and gained access to the company's internal tool that processes location data for law enforcement, as well as customer data such as names, addresses, emails, telephone numbers, and order information. Other functions that were compromised include changing the email address linked to a particular device and creating administrative users. Tile said only its customer support platform, not the service platform, was breached and it has disabled credentials to prevent further unauthorized access. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smartphone</span> Handheld mobile device

A smartphone, often simply called a phone, is a mobile device that combines the functionality of a traditional mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multimedia playback and streaming. Smartphones have built-in cameras, GPS navigation, and support for various communication methods, including voice calls, text messaging, and internet-based messaging apps.

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android is the world's most widely used computer operating system due to it being used on most smartphones and tablets outside of iPhone and iPad products which use Apple's iOS. As of October 2024, Android has 45% of the global operating system market, followed by Windows with 26%.

iOS Mobile operating system by Apple

iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple exclusively for its devices. It was unveiled in January 2007 for the first-generation iPhone, which launched in June 2007. Major versions of iOS are released annually; the current stable version, iOS 18, was released to the public on September 16, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Phone</span> Family of mobile operating systems developed by Microsoft

Windows Phone (WP) is a discontinued mobile operating system developed by Microsoft Mobile for smartphones as the replacement successor to Windows Mobile and Zune. Windows Phone featured a new user interface derived from the Metro design language. Unlike Windows Mobile, it was primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Key finder</span> Electronic device to locate lost objects

Key finders, also known as keyfinders, key locators, or electronic finders, are small electronic devices fitted to objects to locate them when misplaced or stolen, such as keys, luggage, purses, wallets, pets, laptop computers, toddlers, cellphones, equipment, or tools, and to transmit alerts, e.g., that one's restaurant table is ready or a nurse is needed. Some key finders beep or flash lights on demand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TrackR</span> Key finder

TrackR was a commercial key finder that assisted in the tracking of lost belongings and devices. Trackr was produced by the company Phone Halo and was inspired by the founders' losing their keys on a beach during a surfing trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smartwatch</span> Wearable computer in the form of a watch

A smartwatch is a portable wearable computer that resembles a wristwatch. Most modern smartwatches are operated via a touchscreen, and rely on mobile apps that run on a connected device in order to provide core functions.

TekTrak is a mobile application created by TekTrak, Inc. for the Apple iOS and Android operating systems. It enables the user to remotely track their smartphone and secure any information stored on the device, if it gets lost or misplaced. Currently, the application can be downloaded as a free, 'lite' version, or a paid, 'pro' version from Apple's App Store and the Android Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockitron</span> Device able to remotely lock and unlock doors

Lockitron is a device which can lock and unlock doors via remote control, typically via a smartphone. Starting with installations in 2010, it is one of the earliest examples of a smart lock. Lockitron was made by Apigy Inc., a start-up based in Mountain View, California. Apigy was a graduate of the Y Combinator start-up accelerator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samsung Galaxy Gear</span> Smartwatch by Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy Gear is a smartwatch produced by Samsung Electronics in the Samsung Gear family of devices. Unveiled during a Samsung Unpacked event in Berlin, Germany on September 4, 2013, the device serves as a companion for all Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets which runs on Android 4.3 "Jelly Bean" or newer. It was released on September 25, 2013. Originally released as an Android-based device, Samsung replaced the operating system with Tizen through the May 2014 software update.

iBeacon Indoor positioning system

iBeacon is a protocol developed by Apple and introduced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in 2013. Various vendors have since made iBeacon-compatible hardware transmitters – typically called beacons – a class of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices that broadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. The technology enables smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions when in proximity to an iBeacon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life360</span> Location based freemium app for families

Life360 Inc. is a San Francisco, California–based American information technology company that provides location-based services, including sharing and notifications, to consumers globally. Its main service is called Life360, a family social networking app released in 2008. It is a location-based service designed primarily to enable friends and family members to share their location with each other.

Bringrr is a startup company that develops and manufactures electronic tracking systems for commonly used items, including smartphones. The company was founded in 2009 by James Logan. The company's eponymous product is a device that alerts users if they do not have their smartphone when they start their car. Asheem Aggarwal is Bringrr's CEO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misfit (company)</span> American consumer electronics company

Misfit, Inc. was a Redwood City, California-based consumer electronics company founded on 14 October 2011 by Sonny Vu, Sridhar Iyengar and John Sculley. It specialized in wearable technology that utilizes sensors and home automation products. Misfit's wearable activity trackers and count sleep, calories, and basic steps that can be synced to a mobile app on a compatible smartphone. Vu and Iyengar previously co-founded AgaMatrix, a company that made the iBGStar, the first FDA approved Smartphone medical device.

Bluetooth beacons are hardware transmitters — a class of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) devices that broadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. The technology enables smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions when in close proximity to a beacon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bragi (company)</span> German technology company

Bragi is a German technology company headquartered in Munich, Germany, that designs, develops and sells wireless smart earphones; the Bragi OS, the operating system for next-generation computing platforms; and the Bragi App for smartphones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Find My Device</span> Asset tracking app and service

Find My Device is an asset tracking service provided by Google to remotely trace, locate and wipe devices that are compatible with the Find My Device network. It was initially launched on the 2nd of August 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Find My</span> Asset tracking app

Find My is an asset tracking service made by Apple Inc. that enables users to track the location of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, tvOS devices, AirPods, AirTags, and a number of supported third-party accessories through a connected iCloud account. Users can also show their primary device's geographic location to others, and can view the location of others who choose to share their location. Find My was released alongside iOS 13 on September 19, 2019, merging the functions of the former Find My iPhone and Find My Friends into a single app. On watchOS, Find My is separated into three different applications: Find Devices, Find People and Find Items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AirTag</span> Apple tracking device for finding lost items

AirTag is a tracking device developed by Apple. AirTag is designed to act as a key finder, which helps people find personal objects. To locate lost items, AirTags use Apple's crowdsourced Find My network, estimated in early 2021 to consist of approximately one billion devices worldwide that detect and anonymously report emitted Bluetooth signals. AirTags are compatible with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch device capable of running iOS/iPadOS 14.5 or later, including iPhone 6S or later. Using the built-in U1 chip on iPhone 11 or later, users can more precisely locate items using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. AirTag was announced on April 20, 2021, made available for pre-order on April 23, and released on April 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samsung Galaxy SmartTag</span> Key finder

Galaxy SmartTag is a key finder and object finder produced by Samsung Electronics. The device utilizes Bluetooth LE to allow the user to locate whatever object it is attached to via the SmartThings mobile app. The SmartTag & SmartTag plus were announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event on January 14, 2021, SmartTag was included with every Galaxy S21 for pre-order, and released on January 29, 2021. The SmartTag Plus announced again at Samsung Newsroom on April 8, 2021, and released on April 14th. On October 11, 2023, Samsung released the SmartTag2.

References

  1. ↑ Perez, Sarah (December 17, 2014). "Lost-Item Tracker Tile Arrives On Android". TechCrunch . Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ "The stuff-finding Tile now helps you find your phone". Engadget. August 19, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  3. ↑ Martin, Jim (February 11, 2016). "Second-gen Tile review: the Bluetooth tracker that helps you find lost items". TechAdvisor. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ Yurieff, Kaya (August 8, 2017). "This startup is cashing in on our forgetfulness". CNNMoney . Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Find Your Keys, Wallet & Phone with Tile's App and Bluetooth Tracker Device | Tile". TheTileApp.com. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  6. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid (September 24, 2018). "Tile names GoPro vet CJ Prober new CEO, adds Comcast as investor and new product partner". Greenwich Time.
  7. ↑ Lawler, Richard (November 22, 2021). "Tile is selling its Bluetooth tracking business to Life360 for $205 million". The Verge. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  8. ↑ Thornberg, Molly (July 20, 2013). "Never Lose a Thing Again with the Tile App". Babble . Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Pasolini, Antonio (June 25, 2013). "Tile tracks objects with help from app users". Gizmag. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Matney, Lucas (August 20, 2015). "Updated Tile Item Tracker Boasts Louder Ring, Find Your Phone Feature". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ Tweney, Dylan (August 18, 2015). "How Tile went from crowdfunding to 2M units sold in two years". VentureBeat. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  12. ↑ Boehret, Katherine (April 1, 2015). "TrackR vs. Tile: The Lost-and-Found Face-Off". Recode.
  13. ↑ Stampler, Laura (July 16, 2013). "Here's The First Ad For A Small Device That Will Never Let You Lose Your Keys Again". Business Insider . Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  14. ↑ VanHemert, Kyle (August 1, 2013). "Tile Might Be a Revolutionary Gizmo For Finding Lost Keys and Stolen Purses". Wired . Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  15. ↑ Perez, Sarah (March 31, 2015). "Tile Launches Sharing, Allowing Others To Help You Find Your Lost Items". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ Thomas, Owen (October 13, 2015). "Hardware As A Service: Tile Finds A Way To Keep Making Money". ReadWrite. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  17. ↑ Kolodny, Lora (October 1, 2014). "Tile Picks Up $13 Million to Make Any Object Trackable". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  18. ↑ Perez, Sarah (July 22, 2015). "Lost-Item Tracker Tile Rolls Out A Renewal Service Offering Early Adopters Discounted Replacements". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Tile's new Bluetooth trackers come with replaceable batteries". Engadget. October 2, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Is my Tile dust or waterproof?". support.thetileapp.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  21. ↑ Alexander Pascal Borner. "Crowdfunding - A Successful Way of New Venture Financing?". Section "4.2.1. Tile Smartphone Application". 2016.
  22. ↑ Natasha Lomas (July 24, 2013). "Tile Grabs $2.6M Via Selfstarter For Its Lost Property-Finding Bluetooth Tags Plus App". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Tile has $13M and dreams of helping Android users find their keys, too". VentureBeat. October 1, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Tile snags $3 million from Khosla Ventures to build a crowdsourced lost-and-found network". Fortune. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Tile files EU complaint against Apple's alleged anticompetitive behavior". Engadget. May 29, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  26. ↑ "App makers band together to fight for App Store changes with new 'Coalition for App Fairness'". TechCrunch. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  27. ↑ Cox ·, Joseph (June 12, 2024). "Hacker Accesses Internal 'Tile' Tool That Provides Location Data to Cops". 404 Media. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.