XACT | TRAX personal tracking device requires no monthly subscription

Your options are pretty wide open when it comes to personal GPS trackers, but Xact Technology is hoping to catch your heart by promising no monthly fees for its XACT | TRAX. Hailed as an ideal solution for keeping tabs on pets, loved ones, movable property, etc., the GPS tracking module relies on a proprietary, web based portal in order to see where your subject is and to set "geo-fences." Location requests can be sent via the web or SMS, and readouts are provided on an easy-to-read map along with physical address, date and time. Sadly, we've no price to share, but at least you can rest assured that the cost of entry is it.

[Phoenix @ Jan 9th 2009 9:18AM]

I wouldn't put it past a company like this to charge for each location request, or certainly for each SMS sent/received...

That way, no monthly fees, they still get the money....

[Phoenix @ Jan 9th 2009 9:22AM]

That said, this approach would be cheaper for someone who only needed the odd geo search...

[nd @ Jan 9th 2009 10:47AM]

Which would be PERFECT for my truck. I don't need to track it regularly, just if someone steals it so I can find them and beat their asses. I'm very excited about this, because the only reason I don't currently have one in my truck is that I refuse to pay the monthly fees. Saweet.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 9th 2009 9:39AM]

The trick is to put it on the person in a manner which they wouldn't remove it. Tracking devices should be implanted into the fat of the ass.

[416Hammy @ Jan 9th 2009 9:46AM]

So you're having trouble keeping track of your fat-assed girlfriend?

[Nando @ Jan 9th 2009 9:57AM]

Interesting ploy...I'm with Phoenix.

"...no monthly fees? Sure..we will cater to your pocket book! ...oh! You ACTUALLY want to track it? That's going to cost you..please place your leg on the table...".

You see this all over the place. You'll pay a minimal fee to get into the game, but once you're in, you're paying so many individual fees (NOT monthly) and confused by them that it makes trying to solve Maxwell's Equations in 3 dimensions seem like 2nd grade Math.

No thanks.

[John @ Jan 9th 2009 10:15AM]

It's not a bad idea for a vehicle. Even if they do nickel and dime you once you have the system it would be nice if your car was stolen. I don't mind paying a bit for a one time tracking to retrieve my vehicle and let the police know exactly where it is.

If they do nickel and dime you though - this obviously isn't a practical solution for... say... a stalker.

Which I'm totally not.

[Jeffro @ Jan 9th 2009 12:54PM]

You don't call the police and let them know where it is. That defeats the purpose of this device. You use the information to find the perp(s) and then go and beat the snot out of them to the point that they can never drive again. EVER!! If you tell the police it will be years before they see any jail time if at all. They will likely just get a slap on the wrist. In turn, they'll likely sue you for leaving your vehicle in such a manner that they could steal it, thereby tempting them and it is all your fault. At this point YOU will see jail time and lose your home and family.

[Jim @ Jan 9th 2009 10:16AM]

More like, "The location of your child will be available after this brief 15 second video on Viagra."

[NXP3 @ Jan 9th 2009 10:31AM]

How does the tracker relay it's location, radio, cellphone? I mean who's going to pay for it if you don't. Do they have an agreement with cell provider?

No monthly fee might be true...but I feel like I'm going to pay for it one way or another.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 9th 2009 11:04AM]

Welcome to reality dude.
You're gonna pay for it in one way or another even if you won't buy the goddam thing.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Jan 9th 2009 11:51AM]

I'm not buying one of these unless it's the size of a quarter and shaped like a red & blue spider.

[Noah Milman @ Jan 9th 2009 11:58AM]

The great thing about XACT|Trax is its pricing model. It let's the user decide how much service they need for each product. Unlike other personal locators, XACT|Trax requires no monthly subscription. Users that hate being locked into a monthly payment, are only charged each time they access the location of the device.

The MSRP for XACT|Trax is around $250 - and once registered at the online portal, the user is up and running. If after some use they realize that they are accessing the device more frequently than expected, a monthly service agreement is available.

[Nikita Polyakov @ Jan 9th 2009 12:23PM]

You are surrendering your GEO location.

And most likely trading in your service for basically allowing them to better geo-target you as a customer to their advertisers.
And it should be completely free at that point for YOU to get your own location.

Heck YouMail.com does it and but still charges you to transcribe your vmail, which they already do themselves for advertising purposes - similar model.

[James F @ Jan 9th 2009 7:26PM]

I was under the impression that these were illegal in some states or had the potential to be. If you use one on a girlfriend or person without their knowledge, it can be a crime

[kingu @ Jan 11th 2009 1:44PM]

I lost interest at "proprietary".