RSSGPS real-time tracking products begin to catch fire
By Ed Oswald | Published June 26, 2008, 6:38 PM
With GPS becoming more common in people's everyday lives, new products are making use of the information gleaned from GPS to provide real-time tracking applications for cars, people, pets, and corporate assets.
NEW YORK CITY (BetaNews) - At the Digital Experience press event on Wednesday, two companies in the GPS tracking applications sector took center stage: While Zoombak seems focused on the consumer, FindWhere offered similar services aimed at the business set.
Both companies' products use GSM networks, which are publicly accessible. While FindWhere has not specified whose network it is using, Zoombak representatives told BetaNews that it has an agreement with T-Mobile to use its towers.
In both cases, a device is equipped with a GPS, which sends a packet at regular intervals to the servers of either service. From here, those data points are plotted in real time on a map where interested parties can track it.
Tracking like this is nothing new, but mass marketing of such a service is. Amateur radio operators have been using a system known as APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) since about 1992, when GPS first became affordable enough to be used by average consumers.
However, without a ham radio license, such tracking was unavailable. Companies are now looking to change that, as is evidenced by the surge of new products now being released, and a growing appetite by the consumer to use GPS as more of a one-way technology.
For the most part, tracking systems have existed similar to this for several years for cars, shipping crates, and other valuable assets (besides people). However, historically, the information was downloaded not in real-time -- not while the car or asset was traveling. Thus connectivity is key for this latest generation.
Of the two companies shown here, consumers would probably find Zoombak the most interesting -- and by far, it's cheaper (FindWhere's subscription plans are here). Its devices come in three flavors: a universal system that retails for $200, a pet-centric unit that also retails for $200, and a $250 unit that is intended for in-car use.
Each device measures about 2.87" long by 1.69" wide and just .82" thick, and weighs in at 2.5 ounces.
The feature lists of the devices are essentially the same. All include unlimited tracking, and as well as the capabilities to set up safety zones, and device alerts based on these events. The car unit also includes necessary accessories, such as a mounting bracket and car charger.
Zoombak spokesperson Michael Glickman told BetaNews that it is also offering text messaging alerts, but is busy adding functionality that would allow users to ping the location of their devices by texting as well. Users can also call the company to be informed of the location of their devices.
The company sees this as important because it solves a number of common problems, from parents being worried as to exactly where their children are to losing the family pet. Even better, if these devices are turned off or fail, the subscriber is notified immediately.
Other features are coming as well, including the capability to change safety zones on the fly from your mobile phone -- good for when you want to ensure your car is staying where its supposed to be -- and speeding alerts.
Glickman added that in some cases, having the device in the car may qualify some for insurance discounts similar to those offered for users of LoJack.
Service for the units range from $9.99 to $14.99 a month, depending on whether the customer opts to pay up front for multiple months of services. The plans require a one year service agreement.
The pet-centric unit is available at about 900 PetSmart locations in the US, while its other devices can be found at Circuit City, Bestbuy.com, J&R, and Amazon.com.
BetaNews will be conducting an in-depth review of the Zoombak device next month.
Ed,
I wish we would have had an opportunity to chat at Digital Experience. FindWhere’s service works on both GPS enabled mobile phones and our GPS tracking devices. Our services are network agnostic and work on any GSM network so we can provide optimal coverage all over the globe, this allows our products to be tracked anywhere in the world, not just on a single network in a single country. In fact, FindWhere has three airtime partners in the USA, which ensures full coverage that a single SIM supplier might not be able to supply.
Additionally, we have several devices that range in sophistication depending on intended use. Our consumer-focused devices start at $199 with plans at $14.95 a month For those who want to use our service on their mobile phone, this plan is currently $19.95 a month and includes ALL our features (up to 90 days of location history, on demand location tracking, real-time tracking, a panic button, and alerts for speed monitoring and geofences/safety zones. . .and more). A scaled down version of the mobile plan will be available in coming months: less features at a lower cost.
Finally, FindWhere can offer unique advantages in battery life on our devices, which last 4-6 weeks, plus a web-based customer panel where location can be seen down to the exact address on a street map or exact building/location on a satellite map. Our full offering and plans can be viewed online at http://findwhere.com/ind...amp;id=51&Itemid=69 – the link in your article goes to our old website.
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|Might be better to just get amateur radio license :-)
I mean, it's little more challenging than just buying one of those devices, but with APRS mentioned in the article, you can setup tracker relatively cheap, and full setup with higher power radio would cost a little under $600 (TM-D710), and you can use it to talk to people too. (and also, no monthly fee. Well almost, you pay $14 to take the test, and that's good for 10 years, renewal is cheap, too) Technician class Amateur Radio license is not that hard to pass.
You won't get nice service of notifying when you go out of "safe zone" and such, but your family and/or friend can track you from the PC.
It works over cellphone network, too, though data connection. As APRS is actually connected to the internet, too. But real beauty is that it does not rely on it, so independant from your cellphone coverage area!
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|These devices are marketed in such a way as to imply without expressly stating that you can track someone without his or her knowledge which is clearly illegal. Some of these smaller tracking companies are going to be wiped out financially when the first multi-million dollar liability lawsuit is brought against them. Furthermore, these tracking services cost these companies pennies per month to operate yet they are offering service plans starting at $10. Amazing how many consumers allow themselves to be raped financially.
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|oh no! $10. What will I ever do to get by?
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|This will also be obsolete when the government starts implanting people with microchips to track their movements.
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