Samsung Connect Tag is a smart IoT tracker using narrowband technology

Samsung has unveiled the latest addition to its range of Internet of Things devices: the Samsung Connect Tag. It is designed to make it possible to keep track of anything you can’t bear to lose, from a bag or keys, to a child or pet.

Based on the Tizen operating system, the Samsung Connect Tag can be clipped to a range of objects and, using a combination of NB-IoT, Cat.M1, GPS and GLONASS, it will report the location of whatever it is attached to. It is described as the first consumer product to take advantage of narrowband technology.

The Samsung Connect Tag links to a mobile app -- Android only at this stage -- and this can be used at any time to check the location of the tag. Samsung suggests that this can be useful for tracking down a car if you forget where you parked. The tag will also send out periodic notifications so you can constantly keep an eye on the location of something.

The Connect Tag is under 2 inches by 1 inches (4.21cm by 1.19cm) and benefits from IP68 water- and dustproofing. The battery should last for up to a week on a single charge.

Samsung says:

The Samsung Connect Tag will work with GPS, Wi-Fi-based positioning (WPS) and Cell ID, so it can receive accurate location information both indoors and outdoors for effortless location tracking. It can be attached to a young child's backpack so his or her whereabouts can be tracked, clipped to a dog's collar so it won't go missing, and secured the keys so they are never lost. These tracking and notification abilities will minimize anxiety about the user's favorite items or loved ones, offering an exciting way to use technology for increased family security and an enhanced lifestyle.

Furthering Samsung's commitment to a seamless IoT experience across devices, the Samsung Connect Tag will be tied to the SmartThings ecosystem, working in conjunction with the user's smart home appliances through Works with SmartThings. The geo-fence feature on the Samsung Connect Tag will notify the user's chosen smart devices when he or she approaches -- so if the user wants lights and TV to turn on while getting home from a nightly run, the Samsung Connect Tag can trigger these products as the user enters the pre-define zone, so the user will get a notification when the child enters the schoolyard or a dog jumps the backyard fence.

Specs for the Samsung Connect Tag are as follows:

• Dimension/Weight: 42.1 x 42 x 11.9 mm/25g
• Cellular IoT: NB-IoT, Cat.M1
• GPS: GPS, Glonass
• Sensor: Accelerometer
• SIM: eSIM
• Connectivity: BLE, Wi-Fi(WPS & FOTA), mUSB 2.0
• Battery: 300mAh
• LED: 3 colors status LED
• Water/Dust Resistance: IP68
• OS: Tizen IoT
• Security: TrustZone
• OCF: OCF 1.1
• OS Support: Android M and above
• Controller App: Samsung Connect / Connect Tag controller App

Samsung is due to show off the Connect Tag at the Samsung Developer Conference 2017 in San Francisco this week. It will go on sale for a yet-to-be-disclosed price in Korea first before availability opens up in other countries in the following months.