Two Glasgow-based entrepreneurs have launched a coin-sized computer at Mobile World Congress in聽Barcelona after the collapse of their 拢100,000 investment deal with BBC Dragon Peter Jones.
Vincenz Klemt and Raj Sark are founders of Connect-In, the start-up behind 拢20 gadget Xupo which uses Bluetooth 5 technology to enable users to find lost items, ring their mobile and track items on a map.
They are exhibiting and demonstrating the product 鈥� formerly known as Lupo 鈥� at MWC and are aiming to attract pre-sale orders.
Xupo allows users to connect anything to the Internet of Things聽and is being supported by聽Scottish Development International.
The Bluetooth item tracker market is estimated to reach $1billion in 2017.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 MWC will be held under the theme The New Element, and we are ready to embrace it,鈥� said German Klemt.
鈥淲ith new investment on the horizon, Connect-In is on track to develop the next system of Bluetooth Smart systems with the smartphone as the gateway to your IoT.鈥�
Indian Sark added: 鈥淲e are anticipating that the Bluetooth 5-ready Xupo will expand the community-sourced tracking market.鈥�
Jones originally agreed to invest 拢100,000 in the product but the agreement was voided when Connect-In and Jones disagreed on market valuation.
Xupo will give the user the potential power of GPS and ability to track physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items on a coin-sized device running on a replaceable one-year battery.
It can be attached to anything and tracked using three features:
- 鈥榝ind it鈥� 鈥� call from your mobile and find your Xupo
- 鈥榗all it鈥� 鈥� ring your phone from your Xupo
- 鈥榤ap it鈥� 鈥� find lost items on a map using community tracking