Fi Ultra dog tracker first to use Starlink satellite

A new dog tracker designed to maintain a connection even in the most remote wilderness areas launched this week, promising to close a significant gap in the pet technology market. The Fi Ultra, released by pet technology company Fi on July 8, integrates T-Mobile's TSatellite service, powered by SpaceX's Starlink network, to provide location updates in areas without traditional cellular coverage.

The device is billed as the first consumer wearable outside of smartphones to use Starlink Direct-to-Cell technology as a core feature. It combines dual-band GPS with LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and satellite connectivity, automatically switching to the satellite network when a dog wanders beyond the reach of cell towers. This allows for nearly continuous location tracking across the United States, including in rural areas and deep backcountry where conventional pet trackers lose signal.

Company co-founder and CEO Jonathan Bensamoun stated that the product addresses a long-standing demand from customers who engage in activities like hiking and hunting with their pets. He noted that a tracker built for low-service areas was consistently at the top of their wish list, and that the company...