M2M may now stand for mutt-to-moggy with the introduction of the Tagg Pet Tracker, a pet tracking system equipped with GPS and wireless capabilities that enables pets to stay in touch with their owners.
The collar-attached device uses assisted-GPS and a Verizon Wireless-certified M2M radio to monitor the pet’s location, alerting its owner if it wanders off.
The product has been introduced by Snaptracs, a recently formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm.
Hundreds of thousands of pets go missing every year, and, according to the National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy, only 15 to 20% of lost dogs and only 2% of lost cats are ever returned to their owners.
The tracker is designed for dogs and cats weighing over 4.5kg and is a small, lightweight and durable device that attaches securely to an existing collar. Built to withstand all the running, digging and jumping of a pet’s busy day, the tracker is meant to be worn at all times, even while swimming.
The battery can last up to 30 days, but actual battery life will vary based on usage patterns. Features built into the tracker include battery recharge notifications and a trip button, which allows pet and owner to take walks, car rides or travel without sending an alert.
“We created Tagg because we understand that pets are an important part of today’s family,” said Dave Vigil, president of Snaptracs. “As pet owners ourselves, we were inspired to design a purpose-built solution that provides owners the peace of mind that their pet is where it is supposed to be.
“A lost pet is something no owner wants to experience, and we are proud to have developed a simple-to-use and affordable tracking system that will help reunite pet and owner quickly if the pet wanders off.”