Surprise quiz: What do you get when a major phone company teams up with a smart luggage brand? for super smart bag It is designed to keep you connected. And in this particular case, you can practically identify it from 35,000 feet in the air.
T-Mobile teamed up with New York-based luggage brand Samsara Luggage to design a bag that’s loaded with most of the things you need to keep you productive while traveling.
the result is Un-carrier is on (Opens in a new tab)A smart handbag packed with useful smart features. It’s now available to pre-order for $325 (no tax) in the US, and in true T-Mobile style, it comes in one shade and only one shade: purple.
As for its smart features, it comes with what you’d expect from smart luggage, which is a removable power bank and a USB-C port for charging. But it also raises the bar for a flat work surface to place your laptop, Samsara smart luggage tracker, adjustable aluminum telescopic handle, and yes…wireless charging — because USB-C charging was so last year.
Of course, you’ll also get the basics, including a TSA-approved combination lock and 360-degree swivel wheels. Brands tossed out a set of eight packing cubes to keep you organized.
Un-carrier Orders are expected to be shipped later in November, just in time for your holiday travels.
Opinion: It kind of makes sense
You might be wondering why T-Mobile is now making its own bag. While this may be part of the carrier’s campaign to promote the latest Un-carrier move, further coverage (Opens in a new tab)which gives T-Mobile customers free Wi-Fi on long-haul flights on the biggest US airlines plus 5GB of free high-speed data per month and free texting at 215+ destinations worldwide (eligible plans only), it’s not really a right. Strange as it sounds, the phone company is getting into the travel accessories business.
Our phone and phone plans are just as much a part of traveling as other obvious travel accessories. Whether we are traveling for business or on vacation, we depend on phones To find the best restaurants where to try local cuisine, call an Uber, check in for an upcoming flight, and even navigate an unfamiliar place.
So, when you think about it, it makes sense that the phone company would have their own line of travel accessories as well. Not that we’re saying T-Mobile plans to do so. For now, I’m told she has no plans to sell her travel gear other than this smart luggage.
Never say never, though. I’m really crushing on this, although I’m not sure if purple is for me, as Samsara has become a popular luggage brand and admittedly I’ve been eyeing their bags for a while now. And if it proves successful, a matching weekend or suitcase is surely unlikely.
To be fair, the Un-carrier On wouldn’t be the best travel bag for everyone, and not at this price. But, given all the features it comes with — wireless charging capability is a nice upgrade and the luggage tracking feature means losing your luggage won’t be as much of an issue as it once was — it looks like it’s going to be one of the best value bags on the shelves.