It’s helped guide missiles, map the planet, and get us to the nearest gas station.  GPS is one of those revolutionary technologies that has and will continue to change the way we live our lives.  Now, spies and parents have a new GPS based tool that can be used to track the location, speed, temperature, and even voice conversations of their targets (or kids).

The Amber Alert GPS 2G, named after the AMBER alert system, is a device slightly larger than a book of matches that is intended to be carried knowingly (or unknowingly) by children and teenagers.  The GPS 2G, along with one of the various monthly subscriptions from Amber Alert GPS, will relay its location via cell phone or computer at its follower’s specific request.  In addition, speed, temperature, and location boundaries, over which the GPS 2G cannot exceed preset desired thresholds without alerting up to five adults. can be set.  

The Amber Alert GPS 2G has an SOS button kids can press in an emergency to notify up to five adults.  It can even “listen” in on your child so that you can monitor their surroundings.

With a $379 price tag, the Amber Alert GPS 2G seems like an expensive way to gain piece of mind, especially since similar GPS tracking products, including Verizon Wireless’ Chaperone service which can be enabled on compatible cell phones, offer many of the same features of the Amber Alert GPS 2G at a lower price.  And while these devices are great for tracking and protecting younger kids from the dangers of abduction, wandering, or irresponsibility, they’re definitely not going to make the top 20 “must have” gadgets of a teenager.