Samsung unveils NB-IoT GPS smart tag
Samsung unveils NB-IoT GPS smart tag

Samsung unveils NB-IoT GPS smart tag

A new tag from Samsung can track pets, children and personal belongings indoors and out.

Samsung has launched a new tracking tag it claims is the first in the world to use narrowband network technology (NB-IoT, Cat.M1). 

Called the Connect Tag, the device will work with GPS, Wi-Fi-based positioning (WPS) and Cell ID. The company says that the device can receive accurate location information both indoors and outdoors for location tracking.  

It offers smart location notifications based on an NB-IoT or Cat.M1 network, using the internet to identify location information.  

The tag can be clipped to a backpack, pet collar or other items to prevent loss. It is IP68 water- and dust-proof, and measures 4.21cm square with a thickness of 1.19cm. The battery can last for up to seven days on a single charge. 

Samsung Connect Tag (Credit: Samsung)

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Location tracking

If a user loses their 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 let a child send their current location to a parent or guardian so they can be picked up. Periodic location notifications will show a trace a user’s location record. 

The Connect Tag will also integrate with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem. So if a user wants lights and TV to turn on while getting home from a nightly run, the Connect Tag can trigger these products as the user enters a pre-defined zone. In the same way, they will get a notification when a child enters the schoolyard or a dog jumps the backyard fence.  

Connect Tag will be showcased at the Samsung Developer Conference 2017 in October in San Francisco. It will be available for purchase starting in Korea before expanding to select countries in the coming months. There are no current details on pricing at the time of writing. 

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