6 September, 2024

Behind the scenes: Jimi IoT GT06N

A long-standing global bestseller in vehicle tracking.

The GT06N, a key product of JimiIoT, has been a leader in the vehicle tracking market for over 15 years, establishing itself as an industry mainstay. With over three million units sold worldwide, it’s been projected to reach a cumulative sales milestone of four million units by 2025, so it’s pitch time to take a closer look.

By August 2024, our stats for connected devices are as follows:

  • Jimi IoT devices: 93,269
  • GT06N model: 38,289

How did it end up with a 41% share? In the search for the perfect balance between price and quality, the GT06N has distinguished itself by offering a simpler, more affordable solution that appeals to a broader audience, particularly small to mid-sized fleets. Its success was also defined by its early market entry: the GT06N was one of the first lightweight trackers with an integrated antenna design. It stands out in terms of ease of installation and user-friendliness in a market dominated by bulkier alternatives, which, while more feature-rich, often required a more complex setup. For years, this model set the standard for quick integration with telematics and IoT platforms, unlike analogues that often require more technical knowledge to set up.

Compared to Teltonika and Queclink devices, which often include advanced driver behavior analysis, fuel monitoring, and remote diagnostics, the GT06N is more basic and lacks some of the high-end capabilities that larger fleets might need. However, its simplicity is also its strength, although it means fewer customization options compared to competitors that offer more tailored solutions to fit specific business needs. This balance contributed to consistent growth in popularity, particularly among budget-conscious fleets, achieving strong sales in emerging markets. One could say that the GT06N has carved out a niche, particularly in segments looking for cost-effective, no-frills tracking solutions.

The tracker’s popularity can be traced back to the Concox protocol, initially owned and developed by Blueberry Technology, which also significantly contributed to the model’s commercial success. The protocol itself was exceptionally well-designed for device operation, support, and development. The reality is that hardware must match software—one without the other leads to frustration or, at the very least, a bitter taste of compromise. Since the integration of the Concox protocol over a decade ago, numerous models with various indexes have flooded the market. However, all of them are fully supported on flespi, and now software problems are solved as effortlessly as cracking nuts, often before we even have time to scroll through the catalog to find a specific model.

Overall, the GT06N has become a widely practical case study in many countries, and its widespread use has shifted market dominance, leading to the emergence of other manufacturers and the development of new technologies in the industry. With the closing of the 2G era, new models will become the frontrunners, but that is a story for another time.

Expert opinion 

As per tradition, we asked Vladimir Tihonchuk, a hardware specialist at Gurtam, to share his experience:

Jimi IoT GT06N—a tracker that’s legendary in its own way.

Integrated over 10 years ago under the Concox brand, it remains one of the most popular solutions to this day. The combination of an attractive price and decent features is the key to its success. I can't say there's anything unique about the tracker—there isn’t. Everything is quite standard, but the tracker has been continuously improved; for instance, RS232 was added, immediately moving it to a different league.

In terms of circuitry and implementation, it's simply a solid tracker for the price. It just works, and you can set it up relatively easily. Configuration is possible via SMS (at least to set the IP and port, and then using TCP commands once connected to the platform). The commands are straightforward and simple. Years of operation by our partners confirm the reliable performance of these trackers. I’d say the GT06N is the choice of pragmatic partners who want solid functionality for their money.