Keeping tabs on the location of our loved ones, personal belongings and more have been revolutionized by smartphones and accompanying accessories. But Samsung’s latest bet is that more can be done in the location tracking space, and is showing why with its new Connect Tag multi-purpose tracking device. With advanced location awareness and smart home capabilities, Samsung looks to shake up the market.
Samsung is now adding a new accessory to its lineup of smartphone peripherals and smart home gadgets in the form of a location tracking keychain. Much like similar products on the market like Tile, Samsung’s new Connect Tag sports the same location abilities but with added functionality to set itself apart from the competition. Samsung claims that it is also the first consumer mobile product to use narrowband network technology (NB-IoT).
The Connect Tag can be securely clipped onto a child’s backpack, a dog’s collar, your car keys, or just about anything you’d want to keep track of. And thanks to the devices’ companion smartphone app, you can locate the device with just a tap of the screen. It also features a button that allows you to manually send your location to a loved one, useful for children letting their parents know where they are. The tracker sends periodic location notifications to the app when out of range as well. All of this is packed into a 1.6-inch IP68 water-resistant square housing with a thickness of just half an inch.
Where the NB-IoT technology comes into play is with actually communicating between your smartphone and the connected-tracker. The new standard is said to consume much less power than previous technologies and offers a much more secure connection, something that is optimal for location services. It is also said to send and receive information more accurately regardless of whether you’re indoors or not.
This lets the Connect Tag be a more accurate and efficient device as well as maximizes its battery life. Samsung’s new tracker does sport a rechargeable battery that nets it around 7 days of use before needing to be powered up again.
Samsung’s Connect Tag also boasts integrations with its SmartThings home automation platform alongside its array of location tracking functionalities. This feature allows you to leverage your location to trigger scenes and automations with a greater degree of assurance than typical smartphone-based geofencing. It also features zone control, so the lights and TV can turn on when entering the family room.
The new Connect Tag launches next month in Samsung’s home territory of Korea following the company’s Developer Conference on October 18th. There’s still no word on pricing, but Samsung does note that it will begin expanding to other markets in the coming months. Meaning we shouldn’t have to wait too long to get our hands on the new tracker. With its unique smart home features and robust location tracking abilities, Samsung may have a home run of a product. That is assuming it can keep the Connect Tag at an affordable price.
[9to5-press-release]SEOUL, South Korea – October 16, 2017 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is launching the Samsung Connect Tag – a new way to keep track of the loved ones, valuables and all the matters in life. The Samsung Connect Tag is the world’s first consumer mobile product to use narrowband network technology (NB-IoT, Cat.M1), a specially designed cellular communication standard for small data utilization, low power consumption and the ability to securely connect to the internet for optimal location services. The Samsung Connect Tag offers smart location notifications based on a NB-IoT or Cat.M1 network, leveraging full internet services to identify location information for increased family security and peace of mind.
The Samsung Connect Tag is the first consumer mobile product to use Narrowband technology, a specially designed cellular communication standard for small data utilization, low power consumption and the ability to securely connect to the internet for optimal location services.
The Samsung Connect Tag will work with GPS, Wi-Fi-based positioning (WPS) and Cell ID, so it can receive accurate location information both indoors and outdoors for effortless location tracking. It can be attached to a young child’s backpack so his or her whereabouts can be tracked, clipped to a dog’s collar so it won’t go missing, and secured the keys so they are never lost. These tracking and notification abilities will minimize anxiety about the user’s favorite items or loved ones, offering an exciting way to use technology for increased family security and an enhanced lifestyle.
Furthering Samsung’s commitment to a seamless IoT experience across devices, the Samsung Connect Tag will be tied to the SmartThings ecosystem, working in conjunction with the user’s smart home appliances through Works with SmartThings. The geo-fence feature on the Samsung Connect Tag will notify the user’s chosen smart devices when he or she approaches – so if the user wants lights and TV to turn on while getting home from a nightly run, the Samsung Connect Tag can trigger these products as the user enters the pre-define zone, so the user will get a notification when the child enters the schoolyard or a dog jumps the backyard fence.
The Samsung Connect Tag also offers several key features to minimize anxiety and increase usability. If the user loses car in a large outdoor parking lot, the on-demand function will allow requesting any Connect Tag’s location when desired, simply by pressing a button on the smartphone.
The Send my location function will send their current location to their guardian, so even a young child can let you know exactly where he or she is and can go pick him/her up safely. Additionally, periodic location notifications will show a trace the loved ones location record.
Connect Tag features a compact size, measuring just 4.21 centimeters wide and 1.19 centimeters thick, as well as IP68 water and dustproof rating for durability. The battery can last for up to seven days on a single charge, minimizing the need to constantly swap out or plug in the device. Connect Tag comes with an exclusive ring that easily attaches to bags, collars or key rings.
Connect Tag will be showcased at the Samsung Developer Conference 2017 on October 18-19 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, United States. It will be available for purchase starting in Korea before expanding to select countries in the coming months.[/9to5-press-release]
FTC: Electronicsforward is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links
Subscribe to the Electronicsforward YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!
