Samsung has announced the launch of its Connect Tag, a multi-purpose tracking device that’ll enable users to keep tabs on kids, pets and belongings.
The idea of this versatile tag is to secure it to a child’s backpack, a dog’s collar or to the house keys so their whereabouts can be tracked via GPS or Wi-Fi.
Items can located the using a smartphone at any time, and users can set up geofences to be alerted when the tagged item has left the designated area.
Samsung hypothethises that parents will use it to ensure their children have entered the schoolyard in the morning or for a heads up when their dog leaps the backyard fence.
Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review
It also ties in with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, meaning it can be used to trigger associated smart home products.
The company writes: “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-defined zone.”
An NB-IoT first
The keyring-like device is similar to the Tile tags, only it doesn’t run off a Bluetooth connection with the smartphone.
The Samsung Tag is the world’s first mobile device to use narrowband network technology (NB-IoT), which is a low power network designed for smart products.
Samsung says the waterproof device can last for a week on a single charge.
In a press release on Monday, the Korean firm only mentioned Android Mashmallow+ compatibility, so it looks like iOS users might be out of luck.
It’ll go on sale in Korea soon, with Samsung promising to roll the Tag out in select countries in the coming months. There’s no mention of cost yet.
Is this something you’ll be looking to buy when it arrives in the UK? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
