Apple has announced a new feature called Share Item Location designed to help users locate lost items more efficiently. This functionality, which is included in the beta version of iOS 18.2, makes it easier for third parties, such as airlines, to track the location of your items once you share the information. If you have ever lost a suitcase while traveling or can't find your AirTag, for example, this tool will be your best ally. We tell you how it works.
Until the arrival of this tool, locate lost objects through the app Search was an individual process. Although Apple was already a pioneer with its tracking network, now the brand has gone a step further by allowing others to help you. And one of the most interesting points is the collaboration with airlines so that, in situations of lost luggage, those who already use AirTags have a quick and effective solution.
What is Share Item Location?
Share Item Location is a new feature that allows Apple device users to Share the location of your personal items, such as AirTags, with other people or even companies, such as airlines. The idea is simple: if you have lost an item on a trip or in any other situation, you can generate a secure link which can be sent to a third party to help locate the object quickly and efficiently.
How Does It Work?
The first thing you need to do is access the application Search on your Apple device. From there, you can generate a link to share the location of any item you have linked. This link shows the exact location of the item in a Interactive map, updated in real time. Recipients of the link will only need to open it in a browser to see the location.
The link automatically expires after a period of seven days, and the owner of the object can deactivate it at any time. Additionally, if the object is located near its owner, location sharing is automatically deactivated to ensure privacy.
And as is usual with Apple technologies, the Privacy remains a priority. All the data you share through Share Item Location are end-to-end encryption, which means that neither Apple nor unauthorized third parties can access the location of your personal items. Additionally, such access to the location link is limited to a very small number of people, and anyone who receives the link must authenticate themselves using their Apple account or an associated email before they can view it.
Airlines as allies
One of the most interesting aspects of this new feature is the integration with airlines. Apple has announced a partnership with more than 15 airlines from around the world who will be able to receive these location links to improve the management of lost luggage. Airlines such as British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa and United will be among the first to implement this technology, which represents a revolution for travelers. Here is the complete list of airlines:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada
- Air New Zealand
- Austrian Airlines
- British Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Eurowings
- Iberia
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Qantas
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Turkish Airlines
- United, Virgin Atlantic
- Vueling
Until now, although users could track the location of their bags using an AirTag, airlines could not access that information. With Share Item Location This is changing as companies will be able to access location information. in a safe way and will be able to speed up the process of recovering lost or delayed luggage.
For this purpose, Apple has teamed up with SITA, an international telecommunications company that provides technological services to companies in the aeronautical industry. This partnership is what has allowed the integration of the functionality of Share Item Location in the system WorldTracer, used by more than 500 airlines and more than 2.800 airports around the world. This will enable airlines using this technology to more efficiently manage baggage tracking and retrieval.
Function availability
The function Share Item Location is currently available in the iOS 18.2 public beta release, compatible with iPhone Xs and later models. This feature is expected to roll out to all users in the Apple ecosystem in the coming weeks.
As this feature rolls out, more users will be able to take advantage of the benefits of securely sharing the location of their items with third parties. Share Item Location represents an interesting step within the Apple ecosystem, facilitating the recovery of lost objects and strengthening relationships with third parties, without compromising user privacy.