Pebblebee Enhances Safety with Personal Trackers
In recent years, the use of Bluetooth trackers has gained attention, often for the negative. Devices like Apple AirTags have been misused in unfortunate circumstances, highlighting privacy concerns. In response, there's a shift towards using tracking technology to enhance personal safety.
Seattle's Pebblebee has taken a proactive approach with its new SOS feature for its Clip Bluetooth tracker. Named 'Alert', this feature, available for their $35 Clip, is aimed at boosting safety. Users can connect it to networks like Apple's Find My or Google's Find Hub. This device is environmentally friendly, incorporating 30% recycled plastic and offers longevity with its rechargeable battery, needing charges only once a year via USB-C.
With a simple multi-press, the Clip activates a siren, flashes LED lights, and sends an automatic SMS to a pre-saved contact known as a "Safety Circle". These are manageable through the Pebblebee app. The siren and LEDs aren't overpowering compared to specialized alarms but are designed to garner attention when necessary. The company assures that functionalities like the siren and notification to the first contact will always remain free.
Our trials with this system went smoothly. The Safety Circle contact received an urgent text with location details via Google Maps, ensuring peace of mind. A follow-up notification is triggered by the user to update their status as safe.
Pebblebee's innovation didn't stop there. A paid subscription, 'Alert Live', is also in the works, extending functionalities to five contacts with live location tracking for just $3 a month or $26 annually. They also included a 'Silent Mode' for more discreet alerts.
The company’s founder, Daniel Daoura, has long envisioned these safety features. With the pending ratification of the Detection of Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT) standards supported by industry giants like Apple and Google, advancing tracker safety was a natural progression.
Daoura emphasizes the priority on safety, both for customers and the general public. Through collaborations with law enforcement, they strive to circumvent potential misuse and ensure user safety. Additionally, privacy remains paramount; Pebblebee assures users of no data being sold or misused.
As more companies like Tile introduce SOS functionalities into trackers, competitive innovations grow. However, Daoura believes that Pebblebee’s solutions offer smarter, more intuitive applications.
Looking ahead, Pebblebee isn't just focusing on safety. Their technological advancements also point towards a future of pre-tagged products, allowing users to track their items without additional gear. They continually prioritize user privacy, developing enhanced layers within their apps to protect against data misappropriation.
