Developer(s) Beartooth Radio, Inc. Operating system Website www.beartooth.com | Initial release 2014 License Proprietary | |
Beartooth is a highly specialized radio completely self-sufficient from cell phone towers or Wi-Fi signals. It has a range of features, including voice, encrypted text, geolocation, and beaconing, along with SOS broadcast access for any device in range. The big battery pack doubles the current battery life of your phone. The company was co-founded by businessman Michael Monaghan and Kevin Ames, a former smokejumper and telecommunications expert who designed and implemented ad-hoc communication systems supporting backcountry firefighters.
Operation
The Beartooth smartphone case, launched at Disrupt SF 2014, keeps you connected to your friends even when the network tanks. The Beartooth case is actually two tools in one — it’s one part 3,000mAh backup battery and one part 900Mhz digital radio. Pair the Beartooth with your smart phone, launch one of their apps, and you’re now connected by voice and text to anyone else with a Beartooth. Beartooth will use short-range radio frequencies to allow you to talk to another Beartooth user within range. Users can choose to call a specific Beartooth user or to put a call out to any devices in range, including traditional 2-way radio devices
Beartooth has raised $2.9M in venture funding as of June, 2015