Tagg and track your pets

Qualcomm is the company that designs and makes some of the processors used in big-name smartphones and tablets such as the Sony Xperia Z, but the company has put its chip-making know-how to other uses. Tagg, a subsidiary of Qualcomm, makes a GPS-based device called Tagg that lets you track your pet.

Tagg is a small battery-powered device comprised of GPS and mobile broadband chips, along with a motion sensor, that attaches to your pet's collar. Qualcomm recommends attaching it only to pets that weigh ten pounds or more, which effectively limits it to large dogs and not cats. Once attached and set up, Tagg lets you keep track of where your dog is from any internet-connected computer.

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This can be handy if your dog frequently escapes and gets lost, or if you just want to see what your dog gets up to all day. The web interface lets you see when and how often your dog is resting or active as well as where it is and then share this data with other pet fanatics on Facebook. The truly pet obsessed can track multiple pets, each equipped with their own Tagg, from just one screen. If you're worried about pet obesity, it's even possible to set an activity goal for each pet and then see how well they do in matching it.

According to a Tagg spokesperson at Qualcomm's CES stand, the battery of the Foxconn-made device should last between 14 and 30 days before it needs a recharge. Tagg doesn't come cheap though. It costs $100 upfront, which includes three months of mobile service, after which the service costs $8 a month. Tagg is currently available only in the US.