FarmIQ Systems has announced an exciting development to take advantage of the latest advances from One NZ and Spark to increase mobile coverage when using the FarmIQ app.
It will extend mobile coverage via satellite, meaning that previously out-of-range areas with no cell service or internet will now be able to send and receive data on their FarmIQ mobile app.
One of the core advantages of FarmIQ as a mobile app is its ability to take your farm management system with you anywhere on farm and still record without cell coverage. But sparse and weak connections still hindered the user being right up to date with the latest situation or retrieve historic events and information.
“Many New Zealand farms are vast and remote, and that often makes connectivity a niggly issue, especially when trying to enter farm records while out in the back blocks. FarmIQ currently allows users to still use the app when offline, and it will reconnect when the app comes back into service, but extending coverage was something we knew would be of great value to our users,” says FarmIQ Strategy and Science Manager, Todd White.
The ability to keep people safe has also improved. “Our broadcast location feature is really important as a health and safety tool – if someone is injured on farm, it is paramount that they get help fast. In FarmIQ they can broadcast their location on the app’s map and automatically alert other staff members to where they are and what has happened. Having strong and reliable internet coverage is essential is situations like these.”
FarmIQ users who have internet connections with Spark or One NZ need to have an eligible phone with certain software updates, SIM and plans to use the satellite service. More information can be found here:
The broadcast your location feature on the FarmIQ mobile app
