goTenna announces what it is

We covered goTenna‘s $1.8 million equity round in December. We were a bit perplexed then about how the company could promise to deliver communications when there was no cell tower service, but now it’s clear: it’s a device. You’ll only have access to other goTenna users.

So, effectively, the device (on pre-order now in pairs for $150, but moving to an MSRP of $300 per pair when it goes on sale) turns your cell into a walkie-talkie, one that can communicate to anyone with the device, in range. Unlike hanheld radios, though, the goTenna can either shout to all other users in range or communicate directly with specific users. So you can opt for privacy.

It seems the device can only deliver text communications. We’d be curious to see if it someday turns it into a sort of mesh network, where you could communicate with users that would otherwise be out of range, provided there are enough goTenna users between them.

This also marks our first startup with a clear pot reference (mustache dude, 1:22) in its announcement video.