Samsung, naturally, would never be content to launch a regular old Tile competitor.
The company just doesn''t roll like that.
While the basic foundation of the SmartThings Tracker is similar to what Tile and a number of other startups offer, Samsung packed all it can into the product.The device tracker utilizes a combination of GPS to help locate lost products.
The addition of LTE-M, meanwhile, means things like lost keys, backpacks and other belongings can be found through a much broader range of settings than standard Bluetooth-enabled products.
That means, among other things, that tracking is easier to pinpoint indoors and below ground.The device is compatible with Samsung existing SmartThings app (kind of a catchall for all things Samsung IoT) for Android and iOS, offering, among other things, real-time tracking.
There also a geofencing setting that lets the Tracker double as an arrival sensor to help trigger different smart home functionality when the wearer gets home.
When attached to something like a dog collar, meanwhile, it will set a notification when a pet has crossed a certain barrier.
The product launches September 14 as an ATT exclusive, with a Verizon version launching later in the year.
It not exactly cheap, with a $99 price tag — though that includes 12 free months of LTE-M service.
After that, it will run $5 a month — so that will add up pretty quickly.