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Pop quiz: what do you get when a top telephone company partners with a smart luggage brand? A super smart suitcase designed to keep you connected. And, in this particular case, one that you can practically see from 35,000 feet in the air.
T-Mobile teamed up with New York-based luggage brand Samsara Luggage to design a suitcase packed with most of the things you need to stay productive while traveling.
The result is Non-carrier to (opens in new tab), a smart carry-on bag packed with useful smart features. It’s available for pre-order now for $325 (excluding tax) in the US, and on true T-Mobile fashion, it comes in one shade and only one shade: magenta.
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 kicks it up a notch with a flat work surface to put your laptop on, Samsara’s Tag Smart luggage tracking, an adjustable aluminum telescoping handle, and oh yeah… wireless charging – because USB-C charging is so last year.
Of course, you also get the basics, including a TSA-approved combination lock and 360 rotating spinner wheels. The brands even threw in a set of eight packing cubes to keep you organized.
Un-carrier On orders are expected to ship later in November, just in time for your vacation travel.
Opinion: it makes sense
You may be wondering why T-Mobile is now making its own briefcase. While this may be part of the carrier’s campaign to promote its latest Un-carrier promotion, Coverage outside (opens in new tab)that T-Mobile is giving customers free Wi-Fi throughout their flight on major US carriers, as well as 5 GB of free high-speed data per month and free texting at 215+ destinations worldwide (eligible plans only), is not really as weird as it seems for a phone company to get into the travel accessories business.
Our phones and phone plans are just as important a part of travel as other obvious travel accessories. Whether on a business trip or on vacation, we rely on our Phones to find the best restaurants to try the local cuisine, call an Uber, check in for an upcoming flight, and even just navigate to an unfamiliar place.
So when you think about it, it makes sense that a phone company would also have its own line of travel accessories. Not that we’re saying T-Mobile intends to. At this point, I’m told it has no plans to sell its own travel gadgets beyond this smart luggage.
However, never say never. I’m already in love with this one, although I’m not sure if the magenta color is for me, as Samsara has become a well-known luggage brand and I admit I’ve been eyeing its cases for a while. And if it works out, a matching weekender or checked suitcase is certainly not unlikely.
To be fair, the Un-carrier On won’t be the best luggage for everyone, not at that price. But considering all the features it offers – the wireless charging capability is a nice upgrade and the luggage tracking feature means losing your luggage won’t be as big a headache as it used to be – sounds like it’s going to be one of those. the cheapest suitcases on the shelves.