Ex-Nokia employees launch tracking device for kids

Haltian have developed Snowfox Trackerphone, which gives two way audio to a smartphone and GPS tracking

A Finnish design company formed by ex-Nokia employees has launched a new GPS tracker aimed at families with young children.

The Snowfox Trackerphone, developed by Haltian, provides two-way audio with a smartphone and GPS tracking, so parents can stay connected with their children without giving them a mobile.

The device, which is about the size of a matchbox, connects with a Snowfox app available on iOS and Android devices.

“Smartphones aren’t practical devices for very young children. Research shows interacting with smartphone screens can be harmful, with the potential to negatively impact speech development, posture and activity levels,” said Haltian CEO Pasi Leipälä.

“By removing the screen and reducing the size, the Snowfox Trackerphone transforms the way children interact with technology. It not only enables them to remain active and stay connected with family members, it also gives parents peace of mind in keeping their children safe.”

A button on the device can send an alert to the parent’s smartphone telling them to call it, with the child able to answer by clicking the same button again. It also overs location-based services through an in-built GPS chip.

The device is “weatherproof”, Haltian claims, with a battery that can last up to a week on a single charge. It launched in Finland earlier this month, but the manufacturer has also launched a campaign through crowd-funding site IndieGogo to fund an international rollout.

“Any backing we receive through our Indiegogo campaign will help us to manufacture in volume and prepare the country-specific data and voice plans within our target markets,” Leipälä added.

The Trackerphone costs £114, with a monthly pay-as-you-go plan of £7.79 for the SIM.