Mobiles for pets
24/01/2005


Loving owners will soon be able to check up on their pets as they check up on their children - by calling them on a mobile phone.

It appears that the days of the simple collar with written contact details are long gone, as US company PetsMobility has patented a new product designed to allow owners to ring their dog or cat and find out where they are.

The technology will ensure that the aforesaid pooch or kitty will not be inundated with unwanted calls, as only pre-registered numbers will be answered.

A chip on a PetCell collar will automatically answer when an owner rings, allowing pets to be "contacted by that friendly recognisable voice of their owners", according to the company.

PetsMobility claim the product will be an invaluable tool for people who want to talk to their pets when they are away on holiday, but also point out that it can be used to track down runaway animals.

A button on the collar can be pressed by whoever finds the pet, which will automatically contact the owner so that they can be reunited.

"The ability to talk to your pet from a distance on the pet's own cellular phone is definitely novel, but I envision the PetsCell having search and rescue, military, guide dog or even potentially patient and elderly care applications to name a few," company founder Cameron Robb predicted.

There is no definite release date as yet, but those who cannot wait can get a sneak preview of how the product will work by visiting the company's website.

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I was just imagining the following conversation:

Hello, Maxx?

...wooof...

Are you being a good boy?

...woof...

You're not eating the cat's food, are you?

...woof woof...

Bye, Maxx. Be a good boy!

...woof.

:lol:

It is amazing the things that are developed to make people spend their money. I don't think I would be interested in a cellular phone collar for our animals. The tracking concept is a good one, though, and that might be what sells the product.

Really funny scenario, Dave. If my dogs are like me they avoid telephones. Lucky might be doable, but he definitely says, "Arf" when he talks.