All you need to know about Amazon Sidewalk

Amazon has been in the smart home market for quite some time now with ring, Echo and echo dot. They are actively expanding this endeavor with their new project ‘Amazon Sidewalk’. The underlying principle of Amazon sidewalk is that data can be exchanged between compatible devices through Bluetooth or WiFi automatically, when in range.

What exactly is Amazon sidewalk?

A sidewalk compatible device connects to the cloud automatically, and can ‘talk’ to any other sidewalk enabled device in range – meaning your Alexa can now talk to my Alexa if we are neighbors! What!?

No, my Alexa can not control the switches in your house. Phew. That is a relief!

But may be it will alert your voice assistant if my pet comes onto your lawn, or if I accidentally leave the verandah light on.

Too nosy? No problem. Just turn it off.

This is the next stage of voice controlled devices. What Amazon is doing is creating a network of networks, according to experts from a Home Automation services company.

So will everybody and anybody be able to connect to my WiFi?

Maybe not. The device configuration is such that every sidewalk enabled device will only use a little bit of your WiFi and communicate with other sidewalk enabled devices. But these devices won’t connect with your WiFi network. Also, you won’t be able to see or connect with devices other than yours. So sorry, you cannot sneak in to your neighbors WiFi and watch Netflix.

Think of it as a closed room communication room between sidewalk enabled devices in the community. You can also place data caps on the amount of WiFi your sidewalk enabled device uses.

How does Sidewalk work?

Right now, all Amazon devices are enabled for sidewalk by default. Every device is a bridge to Amazon’s cloud. They can communicate through WiFi, or Bluetooth Low Energy depending on the range. According to Amazon this is also a step in the direction of helping devices stay online even when they lose connection with WiFi through Bluetooth. Amazon sidewalk uses a part of your home’s WiFi network to connect to the cloud. It is like a permanent low energy network that surrounds your house.

But, what about my privacy?

This one is tricky. This one is a new offering from Amazon, and though all devices are by default enabled for Sidewalk to act as brides, you can opt-out. May be there will be incentives if you choose to volunteer as a bridge, but we do not know that yet.

The offering by design means the user will voluntarily share data. What this data will be used for, and which new functionalities and features Sidewalk might offer is something the whole community is waiting for.

So is this another case of Big brother is watching you? Amazon has categorically denied privacy and security infringements in it’s whitepaper, assuring that all transmissions stay secure within their cloud.

Why is Amazon doing this?

One of the biggest analogies we have come across about Amazon sidewalk is comping it with a post office, pick up point or a hub or sorts. The hub has all your private communication and letters, but does not read it or go through that (Unless we are talking of a James Bond film). This endeavor of Amazon is simply a digital version of that.

Now, it is but obvious that the success of a network is largely dependent on how many people choose to join it. Amazon has successfully got into our homes, and now it wants to tie all those individual homes, offices or spaces together to create a network, says a top home security system technology company in Hyderabad.

Security standards of Sidewalk are pretty robust too, meaning every packet of information is secure and decryption keys are available only with the intended recipient. No information hacking or data loss through kidnap on the way!

That said, we are keeping a close watch for more information in this space, and Hometek will report it as soon as there is news. For now, this is an exciting news that has been creating ripples in the home automation space.

Hometek is a Home automation company based out of Hyderabad. With over 15 years of experience in this field, we are enthusiastic about automation everything. Reach out to us for one stop solutions for your home, office or any space. If you are an architect looking to add flair to your designs, we can help there too! Get in touch.