Communicate Off the Grid With Beartooth

By Ann Binlot Published February 26, 2016

We can communicate non-stop thanks to modern technology, but what happens when there isn’t any cellular service or wifi? Michael Monaghan and Kevin Ames ran into that exact problem while on the slopes one day, and they decided to do something about it, so they founded Beartooth, a new platform that allows users to communicate when they otherwise couldn’t.

“Beartooth was born in Bozeman on a powder day at the legendary Bridger Bowl Ski Area. My ski partner, company cofounder Kevin Ames, and I were separated with no cell service. After several hours we finally reconnected and immediately started working on a solution,” said Monaghan, Beartooth CEO and cofounder. “Kevin is former smokejumper and radio communications operator who spent his career working in environments with no cellular or Wi-Fi service. It was natural to enable the smartphone carried daily in our pocket to communicate off grid.”

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The platform recently got $3 million in funding. The next time you’re in the backcountry, or even at Coachella or Burning Man, where service can be spotty, if you have Beartooth, you’ll be able to text, chat and more. “Unlike traditional handheld radios that are cumbersome and difficult to use, Beartooth uses the familiar intuitive graphical user interface of the smartphone to quickly and simply connect with other Beartooth users in range,” reads the press release. “No need to worry about confusing channel settings, radio protocols, and button sequences. All of Beartooth’s powerful functionality is available at the touch of a finger in a format easily recognizable to the user. Download the app, pair the device, and go explore.”

So next time you’re about to embark on an off-the-grid adventure, get Beartooth, the walky talky system of the future.

For more information, visit beartooth.com.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…

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