Vodafone Curve Review: A GPS Tracker That Attaches To Almost Anything

The Vodafone Curve is a GPS tracker that allows you to track almost anything you like, wherever it goes.

Vodafone has released the Curve GPS tracker, a new internet-of-things device that allows you to track almost anything you like (including your bags, kids, pets, vehicles and other valuables). It uses mobile technology to report its location so you can track things wherever they go, providing a mobile signal is available.

In this article, we’ll review the Vodafone Curve. We’ll start by looking at the key features of the Curve including the real-time tracking, quick alert and zones feature. We’ll also look at the battery life of the Curve, at the subscription plans available for it and the technical specifications.

What is the Vodafone Curve?

The Vodafone Curve is a small GPS tracker that can be attached to almost anything you like to track its location. It’s a highly portable device, weighing only 30g and is waterproof with an IP67 rating so can comfortably be used outdoors.

Things you can potentially track with a Vodafone Curve include your keys, laptop bag, luggage case, backpack and more. You can also attach it to your pet’s collar to see their whereabouts at any time (including your dog or cat), or you can attach it to a vehicle like your bicycle or car.

Unlike a Bluetooth-only tracker, the Curve uses mobile technology to report its location. This means you can track things wherever they go, as long as a mobile signal is available. There’s no need for your things to stay in range of a smartphone or Wi-Fi network – you can locate them wherever they go using mobile connectivity.

In the UK, the Curve is now available to buy for £30. Once you’ve bought one, you can activate a service plan for it which will allow your item to be tracked in more than 90 countries around the world. At the moment, this costs £3/month on a 24-month contract or £6/month on a 1-month rolling contract.

Real-Time Location Tracking

Vodafone describes the Curve as a “smart GPS tracker that keeps you in touch with your favourite things”. At its core, it’s a portable device that offers real-time location tracking through GPS, cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. The device periodically reports its location using the built-in mobile connectivity.

With the companion Vodafone Smart app for iPhone or Android, you can locate your items on a map at any time. You can also see a full location history for where your tracked items have been in the past.

Within the Vodafone Smart app, it’s possible to track the location of up to 20 items at the same time. You’ll need a separate Vodafone Curve for every item you want to track.

Quick Alert

The Vodafone Curve has a built-in Quick Alert button. If this button is pressed for 3 seconds, it will send an immediate alert and a location update to your connected mobile phones. You can use this like an emergency SOS button.

The value of the Quick Alert system really depends on what you’re using the Curve to track. For instance, it can be a highly valuable feature for your children if they put the Curve on their backpack. They can use the Quick Alert button to quickly share their location with you and to reach out to you at any time. On the contrary, it’s probably a superfluous feature if you’re using the Curve as a pet or general item tracker.

Once the Quick Alert button has been pressed on the Curve, a green light will flash on it so you’ll know that an alert has been sent.

Zones

Using the Vodafone Smart app, you can configure custom zones for each of your Vodafone Curve trackers. A zone is essentially a virtual boundary that you create around a location. Whenever your Curve enters or leaves that zone, an alert will be sent out automatically with a notification popping up on your smartphone.

Examples of zones you can create on the Curve include your home, your children’s school, your workplace, or the local park. For instance, you can choose to receive an automatic alert when your children leave their school and again when they get back home.

This feature is sometimes also referred to as geofencing.

Battery Life

The Vodafone Curve offers “up to 7 days battery life”, but this depends somewhat on the tracking mode you decide to use with it.

There are four tracking modes available:

• Power Save Mode: The location will update every 2 hours. Gives up to 7 days battery life in this mode.
• Everyday Mode: The location will update every 30 minutes. Gives up to 5 days battery life in this mode.
• Performance Mode: The location will update every 5 minutes. Gives up to 3 days battery life in this mode.
• Real Time Tracking: The location will update every 3-5 seconds.

You can change the tracking mode at any time through the Vodafone Smart app. For instance, for everyday usage, the Curve can be left in power save or everyday mode. However, when it’s needed, you can change this to performance mode or even to real-time tracking if you need to find the item faster.

The real-time tracking mode is especially useful for urgent situations. By default, it lasts for 15 minutes and causes a location update to be shared every 3-5 seconds. When it’s activate, a white light will flash on the Curve. This can help you to locate the item faster (e.g. if you’re looking for something in the dark).

The Vodafone Smart app will show you the remaining battery level on your Curve and will remind you when each device needs to be charged. You can use the provided USB cable to charge up the battery on your Curve.

Vodafone Curve Price Plans

The Vodafone Curve uses mobile connectivity to track your items wherever they go. This means there’s no need for your tracked items to remain in close proximity to a smartphone or Wi-Fi signal. You can track your items wherever they go, as long as a mobile signal is available (Vodafone offers 99% coverage in the UK).

Being a device that’s been “designed and connected by Vodafone”, the Curve has a built-in Vodafone Smart SIM card. When you activate the device, you’ll be able to add a subscription plan to it. This costs £3/month on a 24-month contract or £6/month on a 1-month rolling contract. The subscription includes global connectivity in more than 90 countries, with no limits on how much you can use your Curve.

The following subscription plans are currently available for the Vodafone Curve in the UK:

Network	Subscription Plan	Contact Length	Monthly Cost
	Vodafone Curve with unlimited tracking	24 month contract	£3/month
	Vodafone Curve with unlimited tracking	1 month contract	£6/month

Your subscription plan is purchased separately through the Vodafone Smart app, after you order your Vodafone Curve tracker.

Using The Vodafone Curve Abroad

With the Vodafone Curve, you pay a flat subscription fee. There are no extra fees when your Vodafone Curve goes abroad to another country. You can currently use it in all of the following countries on your subscription plan:

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Algeria
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Austria
• Bahrain
• Balearics
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Bolivia
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Canary Islands
• Ceuta and Melilla
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Congo DRC
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Polynesia
• Germany
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Nauru
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Pakistan
• Palestinian Territory
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Qatar
• Reunion
• Romania
• Russia
• Rwanda
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay
• Vatican City
• Vietnam

As it uses mobile connectivity, the Curve can only be used for land-based tracking. It isn’t possible to use the Curve for tracking at sea where a mobile signal isn’t available. You also won’t be able to use it in the air, so the Curve should be switched off before you board a plane.

Check Vodafone Coverage Map →

Technical Specifications

The following table shows the technical specifications of the Vodafone Curve in more depth:

	Vodafone Curve
Design & Form Factor
Dimensions:	4.21cm diameter x 1.64cm thick
Weight:	30g
Colour:	Dove or Slate
Waterproofing:	IP67 waterproof and dustproof (up to 1m depth for 30 minutes)
Connectivity
GPS:	✔ Yes
Wi-Fi:	✔ Yes
Bluetooth:	✔ Yes
Mobile Network:	✔ Yes, with built-in Vodafone Smart SIM
Mobile Bands:	Quad-band GSM GSM 850, GSM 1900, DCS 1800, PCS 1900
Power & Battery
Battery Life:	Up to 7 days (dependent on tracking mode)
Charging:	USB cable (provided)
Other
Price:	£30
Features:	Real-time GPS tracking with history Quick Alert button Personalised zones & alerts
Tracking Modes:	Power Save Mode Everyday Mode Performance Mode Real Time Tracking
More Information:	Vodafone Curve website

The Curve is the first internet-of-things (IoT) or smart device to be “designed and connected by Vodafone”. Vodafone has said that further devices are also currently in the works and due to be released very soon.

For full in-depth technical specifications, please see Vodafone Curve web page.

More Information

For more information about the Vodafone Curve, see the official Vodafone website.