Overview
- Fi began selling the Fi Ultra, a collar-sized tracker that automatically switches between Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, LTE and T‑Satellite so owners can see a dog’s location even outside cellular coverage.
- The device includes owner tools such as a callback sound and vibration, a Lost Mode for higher-frequency updates, and a Search Party feature to alert nearby users to help find a missing pet.
- Fi prices the unit at $199 and reports a recurring fee for satellite access reported at about $189 per year, reflecting how carriers pass satellite network costs to consumers.
- Because the collar must transmit to orbit when satellite is used, its battery lasts only several days between charges, a tradeoff Fi addresses by preferring lower-power networks whenever they are available.
- The launch shows how Starlink-enabled direct-to-cell service is moving into small wearables and could open the way for satellite-enabled livestock tags and wildlife collars while reshaping cost and power expectations for such devices.