Nearly everyone has lost his or her cell phone at
least once, and we also all know someone who seems to lose his or hers every week.
I lost mine after slipping on some ice on Bloor Street in downtown Toronto. Dealing with the new bruise on my
tailbone, I didn’t notice that my phone had flown out of my pocket. If it weren’t for the Good Samaritanism
from the man who found my phone on the sidewalk (he extraordinarily called the first person on my “Recent
Calls” list as well as my parents), it surely would have never been seen again.
There are so many other ways to misplace it, whether it’s on the subway or at the movies. I’ve had a few
other close calls where friends have noticed my phone left behind in our restaurant booth as they were
getting up.
But a new piece of technology called ZOMM uses Bluetooth to fix that major
problem. When activated, it alerts you whenever your phone is more than 30 feet away. The alert entails
vibrating, flashing and sounding an alarm. It guarantees you will know your phone is close to you at all
times.
Additionally, ZOMM will vibrate, flash and ring for incoming calls. This ensures the perhaps weak volume and
vibration strength of your mobile never leads to a missed call again. Then, one push of its centre Z-button
makes ZOMM a speakerphone with a noise-cancelling microphone. Two pushes take the call right to voicemail. A
single charge of a ZOMM provides up to two hours of talk time.
A final, and clinching, feature of ZOMM is through a nine-second hold of its centre button. This releases a
loud panic alarm in case you’re ever in a situation where you need help immediately. A continued hold will
have your ZOMM call emergency services no matter where you are in the world. In a situation where you cannot
speak, a pre-recorded message requests immediate help from the operator. Essentially, not only can it save
your phone, it can save your life.
ZOMM stands for Zac, Olivia and Madison’s Mom, as “Mom” Laurie Penix came up with the idea for the product
because her kids were constantly losing their phones. With help from her husband, Penix started the business
venture that has quickly eventuated into the ZOMM.
The product comes in black and white (always with blue lights on the side) and can be attached to your
keychain. First shipments have just started at the price of $85.82.
Just don’t lose your keys!•
Photos courtesy of ZOMM
