Zomm: Leash Your Cellphone?!
We’ve seen Bluetooth gear of all makes and models- from many hands-free devices, even ones that are solar-powered, to in-car models and even regular speakers. Today, we’re looking at a brand new way to use Bluetooth, that takes the limitations of the system and turns them into a nifty method for helping you keep track of your cell phone.
The ZOMM, as they say, is the first wireless leash for mobile phones. It’s basically a small disc, about the size of a gingersnap cookie, that you pair to your mobile device, then clip onto your belt or keychain or place in your pocket. Ours was sleek glossy black, but a white version appears to be on the horizon (both are available for pre-order at the moment, listed as due this summer). As long as your phone is within range of the pod, it can serve as a call notification buzzer and mediocre speakerphone as well as an interesting panic alarm system. The real value though is what happens when the ZOMM is out of range- it vibrates and alarms, first vibration-only and then more urgently with sound, notifying you to the error of your ways (more specifically, to your missing cell phone).
Of course, there are some obvious downsides to this approach that are immediately apparent- battery life, for starters, as you now need to monitor the ZOMM along with your cellphone. Should your cellphone battery die or your phone power off, the ZOMM will alert you loudly, which can be handy or annoying. The battery lasts quite a while, as long as it’s primarily being used as a leash, for up to four days- ours lasted closer to three, but it will drain your cellphone’s battery a bit faster. It takes about 4 hours to fully charge (via the included cable), and though the instruction manual indicates that it must be activated online before first use, the model that we tried was able to be used straight out of the box. Pairing is simple, and we liked the weight and feel of the ZOMM, as well as the durability- though it isn’t waterproof, it is light enough to ignore and sturdy enough to handle drops.
We liked the idea of the panic button function, which creates a loud noise, and then can automatically call authorities. But the implementation left a bit to be desired- the alarm wasn’t quite loud enough and the steps to actually place a panic call are convoluted and difficult enough that you’re unlikely to be able to follow them in an actual emergency. One update: according to the company, they are adding about 4db in volume to production units for the alarm.
If you’re regularly misplacing your phone, the ZOMM might do the trick. It won’t help you, though, if you leave the phone in a taxi- one of our most common scenarios. On the other hand, perhaps it might have helped the poor soul who left the unreleased next version of the iPhone at a bar. Available online, for the slightly-too-high price of $80.
