One of the hallmarks of spy and action movies is the ability to track an object, be it a car, plane, or person, in real time as they move around the city. This ability to be constantly aware of an objects location has a lot of practical safety uses for the family and for business as well, and now this technology is in the hands of the general public. A much lower cost competitor named the Zoombak Personal Locator is now available for a fraction of the cost of the more well known GPS tracking devices.
Simply by placing the Zoombak in the family car, in a child's backpack, or even on the family dog, a user can instantly find out where that object is simply by logging on to a web page. The question is, in a real life situation does the Zoombak Personal Locator live up to its potential?
Features of the Zoombak Personal Locator
One of the primary draws to this product is the multiple ways that a user can monitor the position of the Zoombak device. Not only does the unit allow a user to track its position using web browser and map, it also allows the user to set up SMS text alerts should the unit travel outside of a predefined area.
A user can set up the system to notify via text message if a vehicle leaves the city limits. It could also be set up to notify the owner when the transmitter begins moving again, such as to notify the owner when their child has started for home after an evening out with friends.
Zoombak also offers a version of the device that will attach to a pet's collar and allow the owner to quickly and easily find a lost pet. Of course, all of these features are rendered useless if the battery runs low or if the transmitter is lost or left behind. Still, for around $100 (plus $15 per month for the service) the unit can provide some measure of peace of mind to a parent or car owner.
Concerns Regarding The Zoombak Personal Locator
As David Pogue of the New York Times points out in his review of the Zoombak, the device operates on the T-Mobile cellular network which has spotty coverage in many areas. If the Zoombak is unable to get a signal from a T-Mobile tower it will be unable to report its location.
Add to this the complaint that many users have expressed that the effectiveness of the tiny transmitter is largely determined by where the transmitter is placed. A glove compartment or even a backback could block the signal enough to limit its use, especially in places where signal strength is weak to begin with.
The customer reviews of the Zoombak vary widely. Some people love the device while others hate it. In general the most common criticism of the device is that of poor reception or difficulty in getting the device to work as expected along with occasionally being unable to access the web site as needed. However, considering the very low cost of the device in relation to competitors such as Lojack the Zoombak is a very cost effective alternative and may be more appropriate for some buyers.
