Why GPS Dog & Cat Collars Have US, EU and Asia Ect. Versions
When we first look at smart GPS dog and cat collars and pet trackers, it is easy to be confused:
Why does the same product have a US version, EU version, Asia version? Can’t one device work everywhere?
From the satellite side, GPS looks global. But from the mobilenetwork, subscription and regulation side, devices must respect regional differences. That is why serious pet-tech products are often divided into regional versions, instead of one “universal” model that behaves unpredictably in many countries.
In this guide, we walk through:
Why US / EU / Asia regional versions exist
What typically differs between these versions
How a product like VT01 is split into Eurasian and US versions
How GlocalMe PetPhone uses its own CloudSIM platform and subscription plans for cross-border use
How we, as pet families, can choose the right version for our dogs and cats
1. GPS is global – mobile networks are regional
Almost every GPS dog or cat collar has two core functions:
Positioning – the device calculates its location via GPS, BeiDou, Galileo and other satellite systems
Communication – the device sends that location to our phone app or cloud service via 4G/LTE or similar networks
The satellite systems cover the whole planet.
But the mobile networks that carry data are highly regional:
Different regions use different LTE frequency bands
Operators build their networks in different ways
Local rules and certifications are not the same
If one device tries to “cover everything” without regional tuning, we often see:
Weak or unstable signal in some countries
“Device offline” issues even when phones have full bars
Faster battery drain because the device keeps “hunting” for a usable network
Regional versions are created to improve connection quality and battery life in each main market, whether the collar is on a dog or a cat.
2. Different regions use different 4G/LTE frequency bands
The most direct technical reason is: LTE bands vary a lot between regions.
For example:
In North America, we often see bands like B2, B4, B5, B12, B13, B66
In Europe, common bands include B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B28
In Asia and other regions, operators rely on another set of band combinations
The cellular module inside a GPS dog or cat tracker must support the local bands to connect reliably. If the bands do not match:
The tracker may only connect occasionally or with very weak signal
Some areas may show “no service” even if our phone works fine
The device may use more energy trying to search for networks
From a product design perspective, this leads to:
A version optimised for Europe, Asia-Pacific, parts of Africa
Another version optimised for North America and Latin America
They may look the same outside, but the radio configuration and supported bands are different.
3. SIM cards, IoT plans and roaming limits
GPS collars for dogs and cats typically connect in one of two ways:
With a physical SIM card (nano/micro SIM)
With an embedded eSIM / CloudSIM / IoT SIM
Even with CloudSIM and IoT SIMs, operators still apply regional rules:
Some IoT plans are intended for use mainly in one region
Long-term roaming across regions can be throttled, limited or blocked
Data and SMS pricing is very different between US, EU, Asia and other regions
So products are often designed with specific regions in mind:
This is another reason why regional versions exist: to keep the long-term data connection practical, stable and affordable in the main region of use for our pets.
4. Regulations and certifications differ by region
On top of the technical factors, every region has its own regulators and certifications, such as:
United States: FCC
European Union: CE / RED
United Kingdom: UKCA
Other countries: local telecom and radio authorities
These rules control:
Which bands devices may use
Maximum transmit power
Safety, EMC and SAR levels
Labelling and documentation requirements
The same product cannot automatically be sold in all markets. To comply with the law, brands must:
Test and certify each regional version separately
Mark the device, packaging and manuals with the correct symbols (FCC, CE, etc.)
Adjust radio power and behaviour in firmware to match local regulations
So labels like “EU version” or “US version” usually indicate a certified version of that product for that region, not just a marketing name.
5. Cloud servers, maps and privacy rules
There is also a cloud and privacy side:
Device data and app traffic often go through regional servers
Map and tile providers can be different between regions
Laws like GDPR in Europe may require that EU user data stays within the EU or is handled in specific ways
To provide faster maps and smoother route playback while respecting privacy, some solutions:
Use separate server clusters for different regions
Route users automatically based on location or settings
It is easier to build and maintain this structure when products are divided into clear regional versions.
6. The key point: this is product-level regional division, not brand-level
When we see US/EU/Asia labels, the key idea is:
This is a product-level regional version, created to fit the networks and rules of a specific area.
Between versions, the outside may be identical. Inside, we usually find differences in:
Supported LTE band combinations
Radio power and search strategy in firmware
Default SIM / CloudSIM / subscription choices
Which certifications the device passed and how it is labelled
Manuals, plugs and user guidance for that region
As pet families, we do not need to know every technical detail. We mainly need to know:
Choosing the version designed for our region usually gives us better signal, smoother tracking and longer battery life for both dogs and cats.
7. Product example one: VT01 Eurasian version vs VT01 US version
A clear example of regional division inside one product family is VT01 — a 4G GPS tracker that can be used for dogs and larger cats with suitable collars or harnesses.
7.1 VT01 Eurasian Version
The Eurasian version is designed for:
European countries
Asian and Southeast Asian countries
Australia and New Zealand
South Africa and some nearby regions
Its LTE bands are:
LTE-FDD: B1 / B3 / B5 / B7 / B8 / B20
LTE-TDD: B34 / B38 / B39 / B40 / B41
These bands are widely used by operators across Europe and many parts of Asia–Pacific and Africa, helping the tracker get better coverage and stability in those regions.
Another important point is that VT01 is a subscription-free design. We simply insert a local nano-SIM card from a mainstream operator in our country (or an IoT/M2M plan that supports the bands above), activate data and SMS according to the manual, and VT01 uses that local plan. There is no extra monthly service fee charged by the device maker – we are free to choose or change local operators and data packages as our needs and budget change for our dogs and cats.
7.2 VT01 US Version
The US version is designed mainly for:
North America (United States, Canada)
South America and Latin America
It supports these 4G Cat.1 bands:
B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B7 / B8 / B28 / B66
This combination matches common LTE deployments in the Americas, so the device has a much better chance to connect quickly and stay online in those countries.
Just like the Eurasian version, the VT01 US version is also subscription-free: we use a local SIM card from a major carrier in the Americas that supports these bands, choose a suitable plan (for example, a low-cost IoT or basic data plan), and the tracker relies on that connection. Again, there is no mandatory in-app subscription from the manufacturer, which keeps long-term running costs more transparent and under our control.
From this example we can see:
It is the same product family, but different band sets and firmware tuning create different regional versions. Pet families simply choose the version that matches where their dogs or cats live most of the time, and then insert a mainstream local SIM card without paying extra monthly subscription fees to the device brand.
8. Product example two: GlocalMe PetPhone, CloudSIM and subscription plans
Not every product is tied to one region forever. For people who travel frequently across borders with their pets, some devices use a more flexible design based on CloudSIM and global platforms.
A good example is GlocalMe PetPhone — a smart collar-style device designed for pet tracking in a more “phone-like” way:
It uses the GlocalMe group’s proprietary CloudSIM platform, rather than relying on a fixed local physical SIM card.
With its built-in CloudSIM, PetPhone can access mobile networks from over 390 operators in more than 200 countries and regions, without inserting a physical SIM card.
The CloudSIM platform itself is developed and operated by the GlocalMe group, so this behaviour belongs to this specific product line rather than to all GPS trackers on the market.
In real use, this design is helpful when:
We take our dog or cat on multi-country trips, or
We are often not sure which local SIM to choose and prefer an automatic global solution.
PetPhone is also a subscription-style product, which makes cost and features more predictable:
Includes 1-Month Free Trial
New users can try all core features risk-free for one month.
Flexible Subscription Plans
Affordable 1-year, 2-year or 3-year options are available.
The 3-year plan averages around $5 per month, offering significant savings compared to shorter terms.
This means pet families do not have to manage separate SIM cards and data bundles ourselves. We simply:
Activate PetPhone in the app
Enjoy the first month free
Choose a subscription term that fits our long-term plans
Even so, CloudSIM-based devices still follow the same principles as regional models:
They must support the frequency bands of each country where they connect
They still obey local regulations, certifications and fair-use rules
They use virtual SIM profiles and a global platform to make cross-border use more convenient
So whether we look at a regional-version product family like VT01, or at a cross-border device like GlocalMe PetPhone with its CloudSIM and subscription plans, the core goal is the same:
To keep our dogs and cats connected as reliably and safely as possible in the places where they live, travel and explore.
9. How we can choose the right version as pet families
To keep things practical, we can ask three simple questions before choosing a GPS collar or tracker for our dog or cat:
1. Where does our pet spend 90% of its time?
Mainly in Europe → choose a Eurasian / EU-oriented version
Mainly in the US or Canada → choose a US/Americas version
Mainly in Asia or Oceania → choose a version tuned to those regions
2. Do we often cross regions for long stays with our dog or cat?
For occasional short trips, a strong regional version with roaming is usually enough if coverage exists
For frequent or long-term cross-region stays, a CloudSIM-based device or a second regional device may be more reliable
3. Does the product page clearly list bands and supported regions?
Transparent product pages show:
Supported LTE bands
Recommended countries and regions
SIM / CloudSIM and subscription details
Before buying, we can quickly compare our local operators and confirm that coverage is realistic
Using these three questions, most families can quickly narrow down to the version that fits real-world life for their dog or cat.
10. Key takeaways
GPS satellites are global, but mobile networks, subscriptions and regulations are regional.
That is why many GPS dog and cat collars are divided into US / EU / Asia and other regional versions.
Products like VT01 use regional versions (Eurasian vs US) with different LTE band sets to match local operators, while remaining subscription-free and local-SIM-ready for dogs and cats.
Products like GlocalMe PetPhone use the GlocalMe group’s CloudSIM platform and subscription plans to connect to over 390 operators in 200+ countries and regions without a physical SIM card, which is especially helpful for cross-border pet lifestyles.
As pet families, we mainly need to look at:
Where our dogs or cats live most of the time
How often we cross regions together
Whether the product clearly explains its bands, regions and subscription model
Regional versions are not there to make life difficult. They exist so that, in each part of the world, our pets’ collars can connect more reliably, use power more intelligently and stay compliant with local rules—so we can focus on enjoying the journey together.
FAQ: Regional versions and cross-border use
Q1. Can we use a US version GPS dog or cat collar in Europe? In some areas it may still connect if local networks use compatible bands, but coverage and stability are not guaranteed. For everyday, long-term use, it is much safer to choose the version designed for our main region (for example, a Eurasian/EU version for Europe, and a US/Americas version for North and Latin America).
Q2. What happens if we move from Europe to the US (or the other way around) with our pet? For a permanent move, the best solution is usually to switch to the version designed for our new home region. This gives better coverage, more stable tracking and full compliance with local rules. For short trips, roaming on our original version may be acceptable if coverage is available, but it is not a perfect long-term solution.
Q3. Does GPS tracking work without a mobile or data network? The GPS chip can still calculate location from satellites, but without a mobile or data connection the collar or tracker cannot send that location to our phone in real time. In that situation, we may only see limited or delayed information. That is why matching the right regional version (and data/subscription solution) is so important.
Q4. Do we still need a physical SIM card if the device uses CloudSIM? For a device like GlocalMe PetPhone, which uses the GlocalMe group’s CloudSIM platform, we generally do not need to insert a physical SIM card. The device connects through virtual SIM profiles managed in the cloud and can access networks from over 390 operators in more than 200 countries and regions. We activate the device in the app, enjoy a 1-month free trial, and then choose a 1-, 2- or 3-year subscription plan—with the 3-year plan averaging about $5 per month for the best value.
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