Jump to content

Vodacom's new Curve smart tracker


Rocket-Boy

Recommended Posts

I couldnt find anything about this on the forum and I know some members have been looking for something like this.

 

Vodacom have released the Curve cellular/wifi/gps/bluetooth tracker and it looks like it could be quite useful for tracking bikes or allowing family to see where you are when out riding.

 

https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/v-by-vodacom/curve

 

How useful it will be in the end Im not sure, but it could have some very useful applications with the international roaming functionality.

Edited by Rocket-Boy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A client who I do work for has now been robbed twice in two weeks....both times only the computers were knicked (inside job in my opinion)....you reckon something like this hidden away in a lap top or desktop could be of use?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A client who I do work for has now been robbed twice in two weeks....both times only the computers were knicked (inside job in my opinion)....you reckon something like this hidden away in a lap top or desktop could be of use?

 

 

Yeah it could easily do that job, just mount it inside the case with double sided tape and run a USB cable into the case to provide constant charge. 

If they want to be more stealthy then the battery lasts up to 7 days on a charge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 day battery life to me is a problem. Something like this you want to attach and forget until its needed.

Yeah for sure, with IoT devices there is always a trade off between functionality and battery life.

The longer the battery life, the less updates it can provide and will wake from deep sleep less often.

 

If it became part of a routine to throw it into a commuting pack each day then that would be less of an issue.

 

Im on the fence with this, I can see applications where it would be really useful, but others where it would come up lacking.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah for sure, with IoT devices there is always a trade off between functionality and battery life.

The longer the battery life, the less updates it can provide and will wake from deep sleep less often.

 

If it became part of a routine to throw it into a commuting pack each day then that would be less of an issue.

 

Im on the fence with this, I can see applications where it would be really useful, but others where it would come up lacking.

I just look at the one use case they put forward, using it to track your pet.

Sure the device will tell you when it needs charging (I assume via the app), but then taking it off your pet to charge, then remembering to put it back on the pet when its charged again. To much PT in my opinion.

 

Sure it has its uses, but it doesnt seem that versatile to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks interesting. I charge my Garmin often enough, so might as well charge this if it gives me a good chance of retrieving a stolen bicycle.

 

Any idea on once-off cost and the subsequent monthly subscription they will obviously charge for this? I didn't see anything mentioned on the webpage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just look at the one use case they put forward, using it to track your pet.

Sure the device will tell you when it needs charging (I assume via the app), but then taking it off your pet to charge, then remembering to put it back on the pet when its charged again. To much PT in my opinion.

 

Sure it has its uses, but it doesnt seem that versatile to me.

 

Well, it's a cost/benefit thing isn't it? The cost is the schlep as you point out, the benefit is the security and knowledge that I can get what I value back. In the case of my pet, that's enormous to me. Pity my pets are cats, and this is likely too big for them to remain happy cats

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks interesting. I charge my Garmin often enough, so might as well charge this if it gives me a good chance of retrieving a stolen bicycle.

 

Any idea on once-off cost and the subsequent monthly subscription they will obviously charge for this? I didn't see anything mentioned on the webpage.

Honestly I think the lack of price is the biggest issue right now.

That will be the most important factor to me personally.

 

I like the idea of having one to track my luggage when travelling or putting on my dog's collar if we go trail running. If they dont get the pricing right then it just wouldnt make sense having one for those purposes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Device is R749 and subscription R39 per month. Not terrible.

 

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/vodacom-launches-new-gps-tracker-device-called-curve-2021-3

doesnt say if you need to sign for a long term contract or just go month to month.

 

 

I can see a use for tracking baggage if you're a frequent flyer.

The other use I'm thinking of (and thats because its on my mind at the moment), is if you're moving house, pop one of these into one of your boxes going into the removals truck and you can track your goods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

doesnt say if you need to sign for a long term contract or just go month to month.

 

 

I can see a use for tracking baggage if you're a frequent flyer.

The other use I'm thinking of (and thats because its on my mind at the moment), is if you're moving house, pop one of these into one of your boxes going into the removals truck and you can track your goods.

Hopefully a month to month subscription. If it was a long term contract commitment, they would give you the device for "free"...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

doesnt say if you need to sign for a long term contract or just go month to month.

 

 

I can see a use for tracking baggage if you're a frequent flyer.

The other use I'm thinking of (and thats because its on my mind at the moment), is if you're moving house, pop one of these into one of your boxes going into the removals truck and you can track your goods.

I like that second option a lot!

Im pretty sure you could come up with a bunch of ideas to use something like this.

Normally I would have gone the route of building an IoT device myself and adding that functionality, but really I wouldnt be able to build it for the price its being sold at.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hopefully a month to month subscription. If it was a long term contract commitment, they would give you the device for "free"...

The fastest way for them to get this into the market would be on a month to month basis. Most people would want some feedback before committing to it.

Otherwise a 6 month contract at a minimum.

 

Its an esim device from what I can translate in the marketing jargon and there is limited scope for abuse due to that. It would be really interesting if they can make it contract free, but Im not sure how they would then handle billing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Settings My Forum Content My Followed Content Forum Settings Ad Messages My Ads My Favourites My Saved Alerts My Pay Deals Help Logout