No. ABB is time-based check-in safety. It does not continuously track your location. There is no live map, no location history, and no data sold to third parties. Your adventure details exist solely to reach your emergency contact if needed — nothing else.

ABB never knows where you are. You choose what details to share, with whom, and only when it matters. Your adventure information is stored securely and used only to trigger notifications if you don't check in. We do not analyze, share, or monetize it.

No. ABB works from any phone with internet access. There is no device to buy, no monthly satellite fee, and no SIM card required. It complements — but does not replace — devices like Garmin inReach for remote wilderness where there is no cell coverage.

You have a 1 hour grace window after your expected return time before escalation begins. Beacon Pro users receive an SMS reminder during that window so you can check in before your contacts are notified.

Your designated emergency contact receives a message with your name, adventure details, route link, and your phone number. The message clearly asks them to try to reach you before contacting emergency services. ABB does not contact rescue services directly.

If you don't check in, escalation may notify your contacts. This is by design to reduce the chance of missing a real emergency.

If you started an adventure and don't check in on time, escalation can still proceed to notify your contacts.

Beacon Pro includes unlimited SMS + email notifications for normal personal use.

SMS is the most reliable way to reach someone in an emergency — and that's not an accident. It's why governments use SMS for disaster warnings and amber alerts, not push notifications or messaging apps.

SMS runs on the cellular network directly, not the internet. That means it delivers with as little as one bar of signal — in mountain valleys, remote trails, and rural areas where data connections drop entirely. WhatsApp, Telegram, and every other internet-based message requires a working data connection on both ends. In the moments that matter, that's not a given.

SMS also requires nothing from your emergency contact. No app installed. No account. No notification settings to configure. It arrives natively on every phone, even in low-power mode or Do Not Disturb. A WhatsApp message to someone who has the app muted or backgrounded is a missed alert. An SMS is not.

When you don't check in, ABB sends an SMS to you first — giving you the chance to check in before anyone is contacted. If you don't respond, your emergency contact is reached by SMS. No waiting for an email to be opened. No hoping they have data. The right person gets the message as fast as the network allows.

Email notifications work from anywhere. If your phone number is in an unsupported country, you can still receive all Adventure Buddy Beacon alerts by email — no action required.

SMS delivery is currently limited based on your phone number’s country calling code (for example, +33 for France). This restriction exists to prevent SMS fraud and toll-fraud abuse, control messaging costs, and ensure reliable delivery to the numbers we do support.

Supported regions for SMS:

• United States & Canada
• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• European Union (EU) — Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
• EEA/EFTA — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway

If your phone number is outside these regions, SMS sends will be blocked and you’ll see a message explaining why. In that case, please use email for notifications, or contact support@adventurebuddybeacon.com. We plan to expand SMS coverage over time.

No. ABB notifies the people you choose. It does not dispatch rescue services.

Yes. Beacon Pro is billed annually. You can cancel anytime and retain access until the end of your billing year.