Kuo: Supply Chain to Ramp Up for Apple's Ultra Wideband Tags in Second to Third Quarter of 2020

[MacRumors]

Shanghai-based manufacturing company Universal Scientific Industrial will begin supplying the system-in-package for Apple's upcoming Ultra Wideband item tracking tags in the second to third quarter of 2020, with shipments to reach tens of millions of units by the end of the year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note with TF International Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said Universal Scientific Industrial will be the primary supplier of the system-in-package for the tags, fulfilling around 60 percent of orders. Similar to the one inside AirPods, the system-in-package would be a densely packed circuit board, and it would likely include the Apple-designed U1 chip for Ultra Wideband support.

Apple's tag image asset in iOS 13 code​

"We believe that the ultra-wideband (UWB) tag will enhance the user experience of iOS's 'find' and augment reality (AR) applications by offering measurement functions in the short distance," wrote Kuo.

Last month, Kuo said the Ultra Wideband tag would be one of Apple's major new hardware products in the first half of 2020, but he has yet to provide a more specific release date for the accessory.

Multiple reports this week have indicated that a new lower-cost iPhone model and refreshed iPad Pro models with 3D sensing could debut as early as next month, possibly at an as-yet unannounced Apple event on Tuesday, March 31. It is certainly possible that the Ultra Wideband tags could also be unveiled at the March event, if one transpires, but the second to third quarter timeframe for system-in-package shipments leaves room for an announcement at WWDC 2020 in June as well.

It is worth noting that Apple has introduced many of its first-generation hardware products several months in advance of their release, including the original iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod, so whether the Ultra Wideband tags are announced in March or June, they might not ship until later in the year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1181924569378148353

MacRumors uncovered evidence of Apple working on Tile-like item trackers in iOS 13 code last year, including an unreleased "Items" tab in the Find My app and a potential "AirTag" name for the small, circular tags.

Users would receive a notification when they are separated from a tagged item and, if necessary, they would be able to tap a button in the Find My app that would result in Apple's tag chiming. It would also be possible to disable notifications for "safe locations" such as a home or workplace.

Apple's internal "Items" tab in the Find My app for its Ultra Wideband tags​

Apple's tags will likely incorporate augmented reality. Last year, for example, MacRumors discovered that a 3D red balloon could help a user pinpoint a lost item after scanning a room with their iPhone. In his research note today, Kuo echoes that the Ultra Wideband tags will benefit augmented reality applications.

iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models are also equipped with an Apple-designed U1 chip with Ultra Wideband, which Apple's website says will lead to "amazing new capabilities," and AirTags will likely be one of them.

Article Link: Kuo: Supply Chain to Ramp Up for Apple's Ultra Wideband Tags in Second to Third Quarter of 2020

 

[Rychiar]

weren't these supposed tho be out by now?

 

[djcerla]

weren't these supposed tho be out by now?

No.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Will be a huge success.
i guess people love that kind of toy!

 

[cmaier]

weren't these supposed tho be out by now?

No, they’ve never been announced, so Apple has never said when they should be available. People just assumed they would come last year because they knew the iphones had UWB.

 

[ersan191]

I can't wait to throw my Tiles in the trash

 

[Zadigre]

hopefully these will be compatible with older iPhone (with less precise location).

 

[pelegri]

Releasing them after the SE2/iPhone 9 makes sense. It is also a feature that needs to be bomb-proof, so I hope they have been testing it, in fairly large volume, for a while.

Very much looking forward to buying a number of them, for me and family.

 

[Vanilla35]

hopefully these will be compatible with older iPhone (with less precise location).

That's the idea. Regular Bluetooth will be used for older iPhones.

 

[JosephAW]

Probably will require iOS 13 to activate leaving millions of older iPhone users in the dark just like AirPods Pro devices.

 

[Baymowe335]

Probably will require iOS 13 to activate leaving millions of older iPhone users in the dark just like AirPods Pro devices.

Let's be serious. Apple maintains supports for their devices far longer than anyone else and iOS13 goes back to the iPhone 6S, almost 5 years ago.

If you really want the functionality, upgrade your phone. 5 years is reasonable.

 

[itsmilo]

weren't these supposed tho be out by now?

Apple hasn’t even bothered to fix the broken firmware for their Air Pod Pro. What makes you believe they would already launch a new product that was discovered and teased in a firmware months ago #notsofast

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Are people regularly misplacing their bicycle? (shown in pic)

Apparently Apple can't come up with too many actual use cases for this.

 

[centauratlas]

This will be a hit particularly if you don't need a subscription for them (let alone for each one). We did a long trip with our (then) barely 3 year old and 5 year old last year out of the country and got a Jiobit for each just to provide peace of mind for the spouse. They worked well. The thing is, each requires a subscription, not super expensive, but they add up. Plus there was no way to put it on hold due to the cell networks (per Jiobit). They weren't out of our sight, but of course some people worry about the "what if" scenarios and spending $XX for her peace of mind would be well worth it.

Having a little tag to tuck into a 3 year old's pocket, plus in each piece of luggage, would've been very useful. So I suspect that Apple will sell a ton of these. Plus the now kindergartener's backpack at school so if it gets misplaced.

 

[blacktape242]

will they work on my dog, if so sign me up for two.

 

[incoherent_1]

These are going to sell like hot cakes.

 

[Don1985]

Releasing them after the SE2/iPhone 9 makes sense. It is also a feature that needs to be bomb-proof, so I hope they have been testing it, in fairly large volume, for a while.

Very much looking forward to buying a number of them, for me and family.

I doubt they'll be bomb-proof.

I think they'll be really good though. No plans to buy any Apple products this year other than a few of these.

 

[Zadigre]

This will be a hit particularly if you don't need a subscription for them (let alone for each one). We did a long trip with our (then) barely 3 year old and 5 year old last year out of the country and got a Jiobit for each just to provide peace of mind for the spouse. They worked well. The thing is, each requires a subscription, not super expensive, but they add up. Plus there was no way to put it on hold due to the cell networks (per Jiobit). They weren't out of our sight, but of course some people worry about the "what if" scenarios and spending $XX for her peace of mind would be well worth it.

Having a little tag to tuck into a 3 year old's pocket, plus in each piece of luggage, would've been very useful. So I suspect that Apple will sell a ton of these. Plus the now kindergartener's backpack at school so if it gets misplaced.

apple's trackers will not replace realtime connected trackers like Jiobit...
they will only work if there's an Apple device nearby.

 

[blcamp]

Hopefully they are reasonably priced... I want to tag my kid by proxy (school backpack and/or jacket), my luggage, etc... don't gouge us Apple, you know if these work well, Tile is toast.

 

[alexandr]

Are people regularly misplacing their bicycle? (shown in pic)

if "misplacing" includes bicycle theft, they i would have to say yes...

 

[BuddyTronic]

Probably will require iOS 13 to activate leaving millions of older iPhone users in the dark just like AirPods Pro devices.

As it should be. Supporting antiques isn't good for high performance. Low budget users with antique phones do not spend as much anyways. And don't worry - time passes. Soon the latest iPhone will be a low cost antique too.
[automerge]1582043481[/automerge]

These are going to sell like hot cakes.

Yes the revenue potential is very big! Multiple units for every user is possible. What an ultimate stocking stuffer. Many use cases for these things. Wonderful that Apple is going to do this right.

 

[cmaier]

Probably will require iOS 13 to activate leaving millions of older iPhone users in the dark just like AirPods Pro devices.

Those older iPhones can still do whatever they could do when you bought 'em.
[automerge]1582045145[/automerge]

apple's trackers will not replace realtime connected trackers like Jiobit...
they will only work if there's an Apple device nearby.

And we all know it's like a world-wide apple-less desert

 

[44267547]

You can put these in the category of the AirPods with popularity when they release, that’s how quick they will sell. It’s so easy to be misplace our personal belongings, (especially with Apple products), This product segment will serve many for all kinds of effective uses.

 

[anek007]

Since it’s Apple it’s probably non replaceable battery and priced high.

 

[justperry]

And we all know it's like a world-wide apple-less desert

They will make a ton and then some if they made this protocol/software available to android, a phone would be very likely to be near to a tag.