There are a lot of industries and businesses that need to keep a close watch on where certain assets or personnel are at any given time. As it is now, real time location services or RTLS can be used over WiFi networks inside a business without any issues. However, if that asset or worker moves outside the WiFi network things get more challenging.
Ekahau has announced that it has a new system that extends the RTLS capability of its products and software outside of a normal WiFi network. The system works by using the smartphone as an additional wireless access point. The functionality allows the tracking in real-time of people and things in transport between facilities and in WiFi dead zones.
The system requires the Android smartphone to have the WiFi tethering function turned. Any WiFi tags in the vicinity of the phone can then communicate where they are over the mobile data connection for seamless coverage. The feature also works with the iPhone.
