Pebblebee just turned its Bluetooth tracker into a panic button.
The company's $34.99 Clip Universal now comes with a free personal safety feature called Alert, which can blast a siren, flash a strobe light, and ping a designated emergency contact when activated. The new function is rolling out via app update, just in time for back-to-school season—and it doesn't require new hardware or a subscription.
"As a dad, I wanted more than just peace of mind over where something is," said Pebblebee CEO Daniel Daoura, in a press release. "I wanted personal safety that's always within reach."
An alert can be triggered by rapidly pressing the Clip, even if the user's phone is locked or out of reach. As long as the phone is nearby and connected, the system notifies a user-defined "Safety Circle" contact through the Pebblebee app. The feature is included free with all new and existing Clip Universal devices and is positioned as a subtle, stigma-free alternative to bulkier personal alarms.
Pebblebee claims the safety function is discreet enough to carry daily, but powerful enough to help in an emergency, especially for students, solo commuters, or travelers. It's not a full-blown monitoring service or GPS tracker, and it only alerts one contact, so its utility is limited by design. Still, it's a clever repackaging of existing hardware that gives the Clip a dual-use case beyond just finding your keys.
Compared to competitors, Pebblebee's approach is cheap and frictionless. Traditional personal safety devices like Birdie from She's Birdie cost more, require separate gear, and lack app integration. AirTags and Tile trackers can be paired with third-party apps to trigger alerts, but none come with native emergency notifications or built-in strobes. Smartwatches offer more robust safety features, like fall detection and SOS calling, but they come with a higher price tag and aren't exactly discreet. Pebblebee's real edge is simplicity. It's a one-button backup clipped onto something you already carry.
The Clip with Alert could be helpful for younger students, late-night campus walkers, city commuters, and anyone who prefers passive tools over active defense. It won't replace calling 911 or a full GPS-enabled safety service, but for people who wouldn't carry those anyway, it adds a little coverage without extra hassle. On the other hand, people in higher-risk environments—or anyone needing a real-time safety network—might find the single-contact limitation and lack of cellular fallback too risky to rely on.
Alert is available now through a Pebblebee app update, with the Clip Universal sold via Pebblebee.com, Amazon, and other retailers.
It's not going to call the cops, but it might buy you time or attention when it counts.
Originally published on Tech Times
