New Samsung Connect Tag uses narrowband technology

Samsung claims that its new Connect Tag will be the first mobile product to use narrowband network technology (NB-IoT) . The Connect Tag will provide location information using GPS, Wi-Fi based positioning and cell ID for location tracking.

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Narrowband networks connect Internet of Things(IoT) devices through cellular communication bands. Greater communication is becoming key, as experts estimate that by 2020 the IoT will contain about 30 billion objects.

What will work on the narrowband?

The narrowband networks are meant for devices that use small amounts of data and power and they provide the capability to securely connect to the Internet for location services. The Connect Tag has a three-coloured LED and is claimed to have a battery life of seveʼn days before it needs to be recharged. As of now, the device will only work with Android devices.

The tag can be connected to a child's backpack, a dog's collar, or to personal belongings. If you are one of those people who are always losing keys or a purse, you can attach a Connect Tag to them. The Connect Tag has some similarities to Bluetooth trackers such as Tile, although Tile has a much longer battery life.

The Connect Tag has a geofence feature that will notify you when your child, pet, or even your wallet moves beyond the limits set by you. The tag can be linked with other Samsung SmartThings or smart devices within your house.

For example the device can trigger turning on the light when a user enters a room, or it can notify you when your child enters school grounds. There is a function that allows you to request the tag's location. You can set up location alerts that would periodically tell you where your child or pet is.

The tag is quite small at just 1.19 cm thick and 4.21 cm wide. It is dust and water proof. The Connect Tag will be sold only in South Korea initially but will be rolled out in other countries in the months thereafter. No price has been announced as yet. As noted on the appended video, the Connect Tag could also be helpful if you constantly lose track of where you car is in a parking lot.