Skip to main content

Ping's Bluetooth tracker has GPS and cellular connectivity, too

Bluetooth trackers are a godsend for forgetful people, but they have their limitations. If you’re out of range, there’s no other way to find the tagged object unless you want to walk around with the app and find it yourself and hope your phone detects the tag’s signal.

Ping has an idea, and it’s arguably one of those “why hasn’t this been done before?” moments. Instead of just Bluetooth, Ping’s tag also connects to GPS and cellular — meaning whether you’re 30 feet or 3,000 miles away, you’ll know exactly where you left that forgotten item.

Recommended Videos

Ping aims to solve a problem that no other locating device has been able to — always-on, global tracking,” founder Josh Lippiner says. The device is premiering on Indiegogo for pre-order at $99 (and was fully funded in less than five hours, a Ping spokesperson told us), but will retail for $129 when it goes on sale later this year.

The tag is actually smaller than the Tile by about a tenth of an inch on either side, though is about four times the cost. Ping hopes the addition of GPS and cellular connectivity makes it worth the extra expense for consumers, as those capabilities may open a whole new range of potential uses.

For example, a Ping tag could be placed on a bike, or a car for that matter, to work as a LoJack of sorts, or placed on a dog collar to track your dog in the event it runs away. The position of the tag is reported to an app and shown on a map, which updates continuously to aid in retrieval.

No data plan is needed as the Ping is built to work over AT&T’s network, however after the first year a $3 monthly charge per tag is required to access the tag’s location data. Battery life lasts is three to five months, Ping says, although the tag can be recharged unlike most current Bluetooth trackers.

Other features include check-in and SOS buttons, to either notify someone of a location or request immediate assistance, respectively, and privacy features which allow for the tracker to be shut off from continuous tracking yet still have the check-in and SOS functionality enabled.

Indiegogo pre-orders are expected to ship in July of this year. Ping has made no announcements yet on eventual retail availability.

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
I tried Instagram Edits and it’s a must-have app for creators
Direct camera take in Edits app by Instagram.

Instagram has launched a new video editing app called Edits. I won’t mince words here. It’s eerily similar to the CapCut, a popular video editing app by TikTok’s parent company. Meta first announced the app earlier this year when CapCut was removed from app stores in the US to go with the brief TikTok shutdown. 

The Edits app is now globally available for download on Android and iOS devices. It is totally free, but Instagram chief Adam Mosseri recently hinted that down the road, some of the more advanced features might be locked behind a paywall. 

Read more
Samsung resumes rollout of Android 15-based One UI 7 for Galaxy phones
The welcome screen for One UI 7 on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung had a rather rough start with the release of its heavily anticipated One UI 7 update. After a string of delays, the company finally started seeding the update for a handful of its flagship phones, but abruptly paused it, citing vague issues. Thankfully, the rollout is back on track. 

Updates tracker, Tarun Vats, shared on X that the stable One UI 7 update is now appearing for Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy S24 users in multiple regions across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US.

Read more
Google Pixel 10: Everything you need to know
Leaked render of Google Pixel 10 angled view from front and back.

The Google Pixel 9 has been enjoying its time in the sun for the last eight months thanks to its stunning cameras, spectacular battery life, spontaneous use of Gemini AI, and a gorgeous matte finish that is on par with the iPhone 16. Summer is coming around the corner, and along with that comes release of the Google Pixel 10. Though there has been no formal announcement of the upcoming model, preliminary reports and leaks have been speculating how it will look and function compared to the current iteration. Here's everything you need to know about the Pixel 10.

Google Pixel 10: Design and display

Read more