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A new breed of smaller, lighter-weight GPS chips have made it possible to track your dog’s every move. The same technology that helps guide car trips is now being used to locate wandering pets and yes, even kids. A company called Zoomback is selling a small (3” x 2” x 1”) device that you can attach to your dog’s collar. When the dog wanders more than a specified distance from your home, Zoomback sends a text message to your cell phone. And then you can track your pets wanderings from a website (or soon to be available, get updates on your cell phone).

I imagine you can use the same device to track your kids, your car, your boat, or how about your spouse? The possibilities are endless (and a little frightening). I’m told that the device can even be used to alert parents if the young drivers in their family exceed a specific speed. A Zoomback locator costs about $200 plus a monthly fee for the tracking service. It holds a charge for a few days, and “calls home” when the battery is running low.

Some businesses are using the same technology (called A-GPS, a blending of Global Positioning Satellites with cellular technology) for tracking valuable shipments or vehicles. Even the cyclists competing in the Tour de France had A-GPS devices attached to their bikes.

I’m not so sure that this is what the military had in mind when they launched the Global Positioning Satellites, but it looks to me like it will be a hot field for the some time to come. Zoomback LLC is owned by Liberty Media, which also has a stake in everything from the QVC shopping channel to the Discovery Stores. Liberty Media (LINTA) trades on the NASDAQ.

Manny Backus

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