Fi’s new collar taps Starlink’s direct-to-cell to track dogs off the grid
SMRTR summary
A dog collar may be one of the last places you'd expect to find Starlink technology. But Fi, a smart-collar startup, is launching the Fi Ultra, the first pet tracker powered by SpaceX's direct-to-cell satellite network.
Today's GPS pet trackers rely on ground-based cell towers. When a dog bolts past the last tower, the signal vanishes. Fi's Starlink connection changes that, using over 650 orbiting satellites that act as cell towers in the sky.
"The main limitation of all the tracking products out there is that they are using the LTE network," founder Jonathan Bensamoun told Fortune. "Starlink obviously offers satellite technology, kind of omniscient access, at least in the US for now."
The collar costs $199, with a $99 semi-annual membership. Its battery lasts three months, with machine learning conserving power when a dog is resting.
The pet wearables market sits at $3.8 billion in 2026, projected to hit $11.4 billion by 2033. Apparently, satellites are coming for your dog next.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to The Next Web.
Read the original article