If you’re planning on getting lost on walkabout, you may need a backup plan. Fortunately, HMD now offers that locally.
Getting lost is never easy, but getting lost without a plan to get back? That’s a problem. Hopefully you have a backup plan, but ahead of time, you may want to carry a bit of technology with you.
Depending on how long it has been since you upgraded your phone, it might come with satellite support. Certain iPhones do in parts of the world, Australia being one of those places.
However another failsafe could be to rely on a satellite service for a phone, thanks to a bit of technology you can pair with any phone.
We caught wind of that at CES when HMD announced its satellite technology, and Australia is now seeing that concept come to life with the launch of the HMD OffGrid.
The gadget is small, weighing only 60 grams and being highly pocketable, but designed to work with a phone as opposed to without one. Activating over Bluetooth, it talks to iPhones and Android mobiles, connecting to a satellite network for SOS run by FocusPoint International to track emergency responses where needed.
As for the hardware itself, OffGrid is military spec’d with MIL-STD-810H durability — meaning it can be dropped, and survive liquids and the cold — while offering up to three days of battery life.
The hardware comes with a cost, but so does using the emergency capabilities, with the OffGrid charged at $329 while two plans will provide an option for either $113 per year for 350 text messages, unlimited check-ins, and live tracking, while the “unlimited” plan will cost $240 per year or $25 per month, essentially expanding it to unlimited messages over the space of a year.
“HMD OffGrid is a new, affordable, portable and easy-to-use offering that’s both empowering and reliable especially when it matters the most,” said Jean-Francis Baril, Co-Founder and CEO at HMD.
“We’re proud to continue innovating products that prioritise human connection whilst still allowing people to switch-off,” he said.
The HMD OffGrid is available in Australia now.
