A Vancouver startup that developed a device called Linquet that uses smartphone tethers to alert people when they lose their keys, wallets, kids or pets is now taking pre-orders on a new, improved device.
Linquet (click here to see YouTube video) is the brainchild of Pooya Kazerouni, who developed a small device that uses Bluetooth, GPS and a cloud-based platform to create an invisible lanyard that, when broken – by leaving keys or wallet somewhere and then walking away – sounds an alarm on the user's smartphone, as well as on the device itself.
It works on iPhones and iPads, as well as Android smartphones and tablets.
"We've all been there," Kazerouni said. "We always lose our phones, keys, wallets, laptops, pretty much everything. Linquet actually prevents your valuables from getting lost in the first place."
The device was still in beta testing when Business in Vancouver covered Linquet last year.
The company sold subscriptions to the first iteration of Linquet and is now taking preorders on the new generation, which is 60% smaller than the original, has an increased Bluetooth range, and several new features.
The original device had a limited tethering range, which meant an alarm would sound on both the Linquet and the user's smartphone if the two were separated by more than eight metres.
Thanks to Bluetooth 4.0, it now has a range of up 30 metres, and a new feature allows users to set the range they want to trigger the alarm.
Users can also now set the Linquet on silent when at the gym or office, so the alarm doesn't sound unintentionally – which could occur if someone walked to the bathroom, for example, with his keys in his pocket but not his smartphone. Using its GPS feature, Linquet can be set to recognize when the user is at the gym or office and will automatically switch to silent.
Another new feature is that it allows users to add trusted friends of family, so that they too are alerted when the user's smartphone becomes separated from his or her wallet, keys, briefcase, book bag, child, pet, etc.
The new Linquet can even be used as a panic button. Pushing a button on the Linquet will sound a loud alarm on the user's smartphone.
Linquet works on a subscription basis. The devices are free. Users pay $2.99 per month, or can buy packages of four Linquests ($10 per month) or10 ($20 per month). Kazerouni said the latest versions of Linquet are expected to start shipping in December.
