Rating: Bluetooth powered, location-aware alarm for iOS
As the cellular industry’s premier event, over 70,000 people are expected to descend on Barcelona for Mobile World Congress from Monday 25th February [2013]. Unfortunately attendees stick out like sore thumbs from other visitors to the Catalan capital. Most are wearing suits; carrying laptop bags (or a bag with the MWC logo on it); and some even forget to take their badges off outside the exhibition centre. Hence, many will be victims of street crime including the theft of bags [pocketbooks], wallets and, of course, mobile phones. For owners of Apple smartphones or tablets, Danish company hippih has the answer – the hipkey. Basically, it is a Bluetooth powered, location-aware alarm for iOS devices.
The key ring sized hipKey is paired to the iPhone/iPad and comes with a free iOS app which enables the owner to control its functions.
For example, the alarm can be set to sound from a short distance (as low as 2 metres) up to long distance (as far as 50 metres away).
The alarm sounds when the iphone and hipKey lose the connexion. Ideal for protecting against pickpockets on the subway and in Barcelona’s crowded bars and clubs.
Alternatively, place the hipKey on your bag and the built-in motion sensor will trigger an alarm if the bag is moved. Ideal for securing laptop bags or rucksacks.
“At big events like Mobile World Congress there are many people in an unfamiliar city who can be targets for street crime. hipKey alerts you when your valuables are moved or forgotten,” commented, Danny van der Poel, CEO with hippih.
hippih is also the power behind CrowdSearching, a revolutionary online community that uses the power of social media to help people around the world find their lost belongings.
Whether lost or found, this crowd-sourced website is an effective platform to reunite people with valuable items or family pets that have gone missing.
Available to buy at Apple Stores and online all over European, the hipKey is priced at £69.95/ €84.95.
