Amazon is launching its new Sidewalk network in the U.S. and all eligible devices will be automatically added on June 8—unless customers choose to opt out before then.
The Sidewalk network will connect users' Amazon devices like the Echo speaker and the Ring Spotlight Cam, which will function as Sidewalk bridges to form a shared wireless network that aims to benefit users when they find themselves out of range of their home Wi-Fi. Customers will automatically contribute a portion of their internet bandwidth to create the shared network, with a cap of 500MB per account per month.
According to Amazon, Sidewalk will "simplify new device setup, extend the low-bandwidth working range of devices [...], and help devices stay online even if they are outside the range of their home wifi. "
In the future, Sidewalk will also, "support a range of experiences from using Sidewalk-enabled devices, such as smart security and lighting and diagnostics for appliances and tools."
There are no fees for joining Sidewalk, but customers will by default contribute a portion of their internet bandwidth. Lydia Leong, an analyst at Gartner, warned that this feature could break the terms and conditions of users' internet connections, which may not allow resharing.
The devices that will be connected to the Sidewalk are the following: Ring Floodlight Cam (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019), 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.
Tile, which makes tracking devices for misplaced items using Bluetooth, will also join Amazon Sidewalk on June 14.
How to opt out of Amazon Sidewalk
Ring customers can update their Amazon Sidewalk preferences from the Control Center in the Ring app or Ring website. Echo customers can update their Amazon Sidewalk preferences from Settings in the Alexa app.
In the Ring app, tap the three-lined icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen to go to the Control Center. Here, there will be a Sidewalk option with a slide button to opt out.
In the Amazon Alexa app, users will have to select the More icon at the lower right-hand corner of the screen, before going to Settings, Account Settings, then Amazon Sidewalk. Here, there will be a toggle to disable Sidewalk.
Ring and Echo users have until June 8 to disable Sidewalk, but if they do not, the network will be turned on and their devices will automatically become Sidewalk Bridges.
