Staying protected whereas exploring the wilderness retains getting simpler, because of the rising variety of choices for emergency cell service. The most recent providing comes from HMD, which simply launched a brand new accent to attach Android or iOS telephones on to satellites from wherever within the U.S., together with Alaska and Hawaii.
This handheld gadget allows 24/7 emergency response even in distant areas, in response to HMD. It’s received battery life for at the least 3 days, weighs 60 g, and suits within the palm of the hand.
By utilizing the gadget by way of the accompanying OffGrid app, customers can count on two-way messaging and dwell location monitoring for as much as 5 recipients. It additionally has a “check-in” function for sending a message to family and friends with the clicking of a button.
“We need to be sure that individuals keep linked even after they’re roaming out and about,” Petri Hayrynen, HMD’s international head of product advertising, mentioned in a December assembly with journalists. “There’s so a lot of these spots, particularly within the U.S. in nationwide parks.”
The gadget is mainly an up to date model of the Motorola Defy Satellite tv for pc Hyperlink, first developed by telephone maker Bullitt. HMD partnered with the startup’s founders to broaden its capabilities into the OffGrid gadget launched this week. It may compete with a related emergency satellite tv for pc service that grew to become obtainable to some iPhone customers in 2024.
HMD OffGrid: Particulars
HMD mentioned the OffGrid may function an emergency gadget for quite a lot of customers, together with hikers, hunters, skiers, and different outside sports activities. It’s additionally meant to work for stranded truck drivers or somebody going through a pure catastrophe and a sudden lack of cell service.
Whereas Garmin gadgets have lengthy supplied SOS functionality within the backcountry, an rising variety of cellphones have begun providing related, if much less highly effective, connectivity.
In 2024, each Google and Apple introduced emergency textual content messages by way of satellite tv for pc for newer smartphone fashions just like the Pixel 9 and the iPhone 14, 15, and 16. Some studies counsel that the added SOS functionality from these telephones has already saved lives.
An enormous benefit of the OffGrid is that it apparently works for both Android or iOS telephones. It additionally comes with Overwatch x Rescue, the SOS service from FocusPoint Worldwide. The service consists of 24/7 multilingual emergency response coordination and absolutely funded help for subscribed prospects, together with helicopter rescues.
“With this service, all the things will likely be paid for you for the rescue,” Hayrynen mentioned of FocusPoint emergency companies. “Out of your present location to a protected place, they’ll pay all the things. It’s an distinctive service.”
The OffGrid gadget itself additionally goals for rugged sturdiness, with resistance to water, shocks, and chilly, in response to HMD.
HMD OffGrid: Pricing & Availability
The HMD OffGrid is presently obtainable to buy for the US, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, with extra territories coming all through 2025, the corporate mentioned.
Buying the gadget itself prices $200. After that, you’ll want to enroll in a subscription, of which there are two fundamental choices. The Limitless Plan prices $15 a month or $140 a 12 months for limitless messages, check-in, and SOS companies. There’s additionally an optionally available limitless dwell monitoring add-on obtainable for one more $5 a month (and a $10 activation charge).
In the meantime, the Freedom Plan prices $80 a 12 months and affords as much as 350 textual content and check-in messages. Limitless dwell monitoring is as soon as once more obtainable for an additional $5 a month (and a $20 activation charge).
That’s similar to the $15 month-to-month subscription for Garmin’s inReach satellite tv for pc service, for instance. Whereas Garmin would possibly nonetheless be the massive title in handheld GPS gadgets (as evidenced by our Garmin-dominated GPS shopping for information), HMD’s OffGrid clearly goals to compete in the long run (although it is going to seemingly have to enhance the OffGrid’s battery life to turn out to be an actual competitor with Garmin).
Regardless, HMD — which companions with the Skylo satellite tv for pc community — plans to broaden its emergency service areas to Canada, Mexico, and Brazil throughout the first quarter of 2025. Additional expansions for the remainder of the Americas and Europe will come later.
