IBTimes: Snowfox trackerphone offers parents peace of mind

Originally written by Owen Hughes for IBTimes 29.6.2016

Snowfox Trackerphone offers parents peace of mind with GPS child-tracking

The device has been launched in Finland and now seeks crowdfunding to bring it to international markets.

Snowfox trackerphones, GPS device
The Trackerphone wants to offer peace of mind to parents of adventurous kids

A start-up founded by ex-Nokia employees wants to make it easier for parents to keep tabs on their kids with a new mobile device that tracks them via GPS. The matchbox-sized Snowfox Trackerphone is a two-way communication device that combines a GPS locator with voice functionality, which parents can track via a smartphone app.

Finnish manufacturer Haltian says the Snowfox Trackerphone has been designed “for active families with young children”, presumably to help parents keep tabs on sprogs prone to running off by themselves in public places. Pressing a button on the device sends a ‘call me’ notification to the parent via the Snowfox app and to reply to an incoming call, the child simply presses the same button on the device. The device contains an embedded SIM and 2G and 3G, giving it global coverage. Parents and guardians can use the device’s inbuilt location-tracking functionality to track their kids via the app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS mobile devices. A ‘familiar places’ setting can be configured to automatically notify adults when the tracker enters or leaves allocated safe locations. Haltian claims the Snowfox Trackerphone’s battery will last up to a week on a single charge, and the device has been built to be durable, waterproof and small enough to be carried comfortably by a child.

Pasi Leipälä, CEO of Haltian, said: “Smartphones aren’t practical devices for very young children. Research shows interacting with smartphone screens can be harmful, with the potential to negatively impact speech development, posture and activity levels.

Snowfox trackerphone device and application
The accompanying smartphone app will alert you if your child wanders outside designated safe zones

“By removing the screen and reducing the size, the Snowfox Trackerphone transforms the way children interact with technology. It not only enables them to remain active and stay connected with family members, it also gives parents peace of mind in keeping their children safe.”

The Trackerphone was given a soft launch in Finland earlier in June. A crowdfunding campaign is now underway on Indigogo aimed at raising $50,000 to launch the device in international markets.

If you want to create a new GPS device with Haltian, get to know our New Product Development Services!

Owen Hughes

IBTimes