Vodafone launches 1st of wearable products

Vodafone Group has expanded its European Internet of Things (IoT) range by launching two wearables to its existing roster of devices connected by built-in SIMs and controlled through its smartphone app.

The two are a smartwatch aimed at children called the V-Kids Watch and an emergency contact device V-SOS Band.

V-SOS is designed for people with mobility issues, who can programme the band to send a message to four contacts in an emergency situation. Features include fall detection, an alert triggered by the user and an inactivity monitor.

V-Kids, besides being a watch, has a number of safety features built-in, including an SOS alert function, and tracker delivering messages to parents if their child leaves a programmed “safe zone”. The smartwatch is connected via Vodafone’s mobile network, and allows parents to keep in touch with their kids as they become more independent. It offers a range of services, including location monitoring and messaging. Parents can also set up “safe zones” for their children, such as the boundaries of a schoolyard or shopping mall. If a child leaves such a zone, their parent receives an alert on their smartphone.

The launches are an expansion of the V by Vodafone range, which launched in November 2017 in Spain, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

V-SOS Band by Vodafone” enables consumers with mobility issues to continue living independently and get assistance in an emergency situation, when the in-built “V-Sim by Vodafone” will send a message to up to four designated contacts, such as family members.

The features of the device include:

· SOS alert – pressing a button on the side of the “V-SOS Band by Vodafone” for three seconds will alert designated contacts. The wearer will see the band’s lens colour change from amber to red to green once one of the designated contacts is on their way to help. The wearer can re-press the button to cancel the emergency at any time.

· Care co-ordination – Contacts can call or message from within the “V-SOS Band by Vodafone” app to determine who will attend an emergency and to highlight when it is resolved.

· Fall detection – The band will automatically alert the designated contacts if it detects a fall by the wearer using an algorithm and the in-built accelerometer.

· User location – The location of the “V-SOS Band by Vodafone” can be identified when an emergency is ongoing using a combination of GPS and the mobile network for greater accuracy.

· Water resistant – The “V-SOS Band by Vodafone” is designed to be worn most of the time, including in the shower or bath as it is water resistant (IP67 certified).

· Inactivity alert -If the “V-SOS Band by Vodafone” does detect a period of inactivity, such as caused by the device having been removed and not put on again, an alert will be sent to the user’s designated contacts.

· Battery alerts – The 200 milliamp hour (mAh) battery will last for up to a month. The wearer can find out the level of charge by double tapping the band’s screen. If the band has less than 20% of charge the user’s designated contacts will also be notified.

V-Kids Watch features include: 

· Location monitoring – The “V-Kids Watch by Vodafone” connects to Vodafone’s extensive mobile networks enabling parents to see their child’s location on a smartphone app.

· Safe zones – Parents can set up a safe zone for their child – such as the grounds of their home or school – and receive a smartphone alert if they leave that area.

· SOS alert – If the child holds down a button on the watch for five seconds an SOS alert will be sent over the mobile network to their designated contacts.

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