GPS tracking devices

In the UK, Blue Tree Services was the first to launch a personal child security GPS tracker. Buddi is an alternative. Kiditel has launched in France and says they intend to launch in the UK. I've seen PR about iKids launching in Australia, but it looks like it might be available in the UK too

The latest product from Blue Tree Services is affordable software that converts your mobile phone into a GPS tracker. That is, it would enable someone using an Internet connected Windows PC to see where you are in real time (and where you've been for up to a month) to 4m accuracy. That assumes, too, that you have a Windows Mobile 5 phone with GPS capability, although Java and Symbian versions are in the pipeline. And of course, you can only be tracked by someone you agree to being tracked by.

My feeling is the market for this (besides the early adopting gadget enthusiasts) is it's a great lone worker system. If you run a company with field workers, whether they are out working on industrial plants like oil or chemical refineries, water and sewage projects, electricity generation stations and so on or health community workers, delivery people, people working in animal testing labs or whatever then presumably you already provide them with a mobile phone.

The incremental cost at the next mobile phone upgrade of giving them a phone with GPS and Blue Tree Services' KoolTrax software is probably less than the cost of buying a BlueRanger for everyone, and it's one less thing for them to carry around.

They'd probably appreciate the phone upgrade and the lightness of their load, which means they'll be more loyal to your company and would ease the introduction of the system, but as an employer you'll be able to locate them and talk to them and be better able to discharge your health and safety obligations. Within your business there are probably very good reasons to know where your people are, whether it's so you can re-route people more efficiently or so you can find them when you need to.

I guess that works, too, for security or diplomatic work, and probably where people work alone in jobs where the public are becoming increasingly menacing: NHS accident and emergency, bus driving, traffic wardens, pizza delivery, taxi driving, convenience stores and small shops and take-aways.

KoolTrax does have a panic button, but it's a software one, where BlueRanger has a physical button that's more easily, and more unobtrusively, pressed.

Watch this space, though. KoolTrax is very interesting: wanna see where your friends are?

If you are thinking of getting KoolTrax but need to upgrade your phone, check this out: A Handful of Joy, a UK site for GPS mobile phones. If you click that GPS Mobiles link, you'll see there's an interesting approach developing. Obviously just a startup, but it looks like it might be very interesting if they get more products on there.

I've no idea if this works for everyone, but I have in mind a couple who both work, travelling back after work in the city. One gets back before the other, obviously, and doesn't know how long it will be before the other arrives home.

It's important because otherwise you'll waste the time (or relax in it, depending on your viewpoint). But if, say, there's a spare hour, well that's valuable.

If you could see where your partner was, you'd know how much time you have, and if you know you have time, perhaps you'll do something useful with it, like learn a language or go for a run.

So, if each of you has KoolTrax, you'll both know exactly where the other is, which means when the last one finally does arrive home, they may arrive perfectly in time for dinner.