# E056 Tile's Steve Klinkner | What are the Challenges of Asset Tracking in the Consumer Space?

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2020-03-10
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/E056-Tiles-Steve-Klinkner--What-are-the-Challenges-of-Asset-Tracking-in-the-Consumer-Space-e28bmq4

## Summary

Steve Klinkner, VP of Engineering at Tile, explains the technical and business challenges of building a consumer asset tracking network. He details how Tile evolved from a simple Bluetooth beacon to a global 'Find My' network, overcoming Android fragmentation and battery life constraints by shifting from persistent connections to low-energy advertising. Klinkner also discusses Tile's strategy for embedding its technology into partner hardware like HP laptops and Bose headsets, and the privacy considerations of using a crowdsourced community for location data.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=2) Introduction and Tile's Background
- [5:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=331) Tile's Core Technology and Community Network
- [9:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=557) Bluetooth Challenges: Android Fragmentation and Connection Limits
- [13:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=795) Power Management and Device Lifecycle
- [17:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=1021) Bluetooth vs. GPS for Asset Tracking
- [22:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=1337) Use Cases and Enterprise Expansion
- [25:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=1529) Privacy and Partner Integrations
- [31:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu#t=1878) Future of Find My Networks and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Tile (company)
- Zingo (company)
- Ned Apple (company)
- Bose (company)
- KeySmart (product)
- HP (company)
- Find My (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Tracking & Locationing Technologies from Renesas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-11-12-tracking-locationing-technologies-from-renesas) (EE Times Current)
- [Cassette decks have browsers?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-24-cassette-decks-have-browsers) (The Amp Hour)
- [Space Age Bluetooth with Alex Haro](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-07-09-space-age-bluetooth-with-alex-haro) (The Amp Hour)
- [62: Costs a Penny to Go to the Bathroom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-08-06-62-costs-a-penny-to-go-to-the-bathroom) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 311:  AirTag Hack, GPS Rollover, and a Flat-Pack Toaster](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-07-ep-311-airtag-hack-gps-rollover-and-a-flat-pack-toaster) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-03-10-e056-tiles-steve-klinkner-what-are-the-challenges-of-asset-tracking-in-the-consu. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to IoT For All Podcast.